Today, Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria launched joint mine-sweeping operations in the Black Sea to improve the safety of shipping, including the export of Ukrainian grain, Bloomberg reports.
The Ankara-led initiative is the first major joint action by the Black Sea states since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The countries signed an agreement to jointly combat drifting sea mines that threaten navigation in the Black Sea in January this year. Turkish Defence Minister Yashar Guler said at the time that the agreement creates a task force of representatives of the three NATO allies to combat mines. Mines pose a threat to ports, communication networks and key water infrastructure.
Russia and Ukraine are key grain producers, and the war has threatened the safe passage of goods. Last year, Kyiv launched its own Black Sea export route after the collapse of a secure corridor agreement backed by Russia, Turkey and the UN. It has successfully boosted exports and helped the economy grow faster than forecast, but the route remains risky.
- Since the opening of the sea corridor in August 2023, Ukraine has exported 37.4 million tonnes of agricultural products from Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyy port, Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry reported last week.
- Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria are NATO members. However, their ships are outside the bloc, in part to avoid escalating tensions with Russia.