Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania start mine clearance operations in Black Sea
Türkiye, Romania and Bulgaria commenced joint mine clearance operations in the Black Sea on Monday, 1 July, to improve the safety of shipping, in particular for Ukrainian grain exports, Bloomberg reports.
The Istanbul-led initiative is the first major joint action by Black Sea countries since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It aims to clear mines drifting in some areas of the Black Sea resulting from the war.
Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania signed an agreement to jointly combat naval mines in the Black Sea on 11 January this year.
The Bulgarian government has stressed that the group's activities will not be directed against any other country, and the Black Sea mine clearance operation is expected to help improve cooperation and good neighbourly relations between the participants.
Russia and Ukraine are key grain producers, and the war has threatened the safe passage of goods.
Türkiye, Romania and Bulgaria are all NATO members. However, their shipping forces are managed outside NATO, in part to avoid escalation with Russia.
