Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania to set up Black Sea Mine Action Group
MCM Black Sea activities are exclusively peaceful and not directed against any other country, Bulgaria says
NATO members Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania are preparing to sign a preliminary agreement this week on Black Sea mine action.
Source. This was reported by AFP with reference to officials of these countries.
Western countries claim that Russia mined the Black Sea coast of Ukraine at the beginning of the invasion.
Some of the mines have since ended up in the Black Sea waters of NATO member states, threatening navigation and complicating Ukraine's efforts to break through the Russian naval blockade.
According to the agency, on Thursday in Istanbul, senior defense officials from Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania will sign a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a naval mine countermeasures group in the Black Sea (MCM Black Sea), which will oversee mine clearance operations.
"The activities of the MCM Black Sea are exclusively peaceful and not directed against any other country," the Bulgarian Defense Ministry said. "It is expected to help improve cooperation and good neighborly relations between the participants, without replacing NATO's presence and ongoing deterrence and defense activities in the Black Sea region.
The Romanian Ministry of Defense stated that the initiative "will contribute to strengthening the allied position of deterrence and defense of the eastern flank".
Background. As a reminder, the Navy spokesman said that Ukraine could clear trade routes in the Black Sea in 5 months. Special drones will be used for the operation.
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