Three NATO nations to demine the Black Sea, agreement already signed

Three NATO countries - Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania - on Thursday, January 11, signed an agreement to jointly combat sea mines that have threatened navigation in the Black Sea since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, reports AP.

Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said the memorandum envisages the creation of a target group for demining activities among the three NATO allies to combat drifting mines.

"We have jointly decided to sign a protocol between the three countries to combat the mine threat in the Black Sea more effectively by improving our existing close cooperation and coordination," Güler said.

The document was signed at a press conference in Istanbul with Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr and Bulgarian Deputy Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov.

Güler suggested that other countries could participate in demining after the end of the war.

The initiative of the three countries is aimed at making navigation safer, especially for ships carrying grain from Ukraine.

Earlier, the Bulgarian government emphasized that the activities of the group would not be directed against any other country and that the operation to clear the Black Sea of mines would, as expected, help to improve interaction and good neighborly relations between the participants.

After signing the agreement, the operational planning process will begin, aimed at developing detailed documents and instructions for the group's actions. This process may take several months.