Turkey is set to work with Romania and Bulgaria against the threat of floating mines in the Black Sea due to war between Russia and Ukraine, the Turkish defense ministry said.
The ministry gave no details of how it would address the floating mine problem. It said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter that the three countries, members of NATO and Black Sea nations, had discussed the issue at the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels.
Last week, the British government said Russia may lay sea mines to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, such as placing them near Ukrainian ports. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of planting mines off the Ukrainian coast.
The Black Sea is crucial for shipping grain, oil and oil products. It’s bordered by Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia and Turkey, as well as Ukraine and Russia.
Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Poland and Ukraine previously discussed clearing floating mines in April 2022. Since then, Turkish and Romanian military diving teams have defused stray mines around their waters.
Maritime officials say the risk of coming across floating mines in the major Black Sea shipping route is dangerous for merchant ships sailing in the region, and governments must ensure safe passage to keep supply chains running.
Turkey is also working with the United Nations, Ukraine and Russia to revive the Black Sea grain initiative that Moscow pulled out of in July. The deal was brokered by Ankara and the U.N. last year to combat a global food crisis that the world body said was worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – both leading global grain exporters.
Ukrainian ports across the Danube River have since become a vital export corridor for grain, and Russia has targeted the route with regular airstrikes.
