Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria on Monday, July 1, launched joint mine countermeasures operations in the Black Sea to improve the safety of navigation, in particular for Ukrainian grain exports.
According to Ukrinform, this was reported by Bloomberg.
“On Monday, Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria launched a joint mine-sweeping operation in the Black Sea to improve the safety of navigation, especially for Ukrainian grain exports,” the report said.
As noted, the initiative led by Turkey is the first major joint action by the Black Sea countries after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It is aimed at clearing mines drifting in some areas of the Black Sea as a result of the war.
Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania signed an agreement on joint mine action in the Black Sea on January 11, 2024.
The Bulgarian government emphasized that the countries’ activities will not be directed against any other country, and the Black Sea mine clearance operation is expected to help improve cooperation and good neighborly relations between the participants.
Russia and Ukraine are key producers of grain, and the war has jeopardized the safe passage of goods.
Last year, Kyiv launched its own Black Sea export route after Russia withdrew from the Turkey- and United Nations-backed Safe Corridor agreement. This has boosted exports and helped the economy grow faster than forecast, but the route remains risky.
As reported, Ukraine has exported 37.4 million tons of agricultural products from Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi port since the opening of the sea corridor in August 2023.
Photo: Ali Atmaca/Anadolu/Getty Images
Source: International demining operation launched in Black Sea
