Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey have agreed to expand a joint Black Sea mine-clearing force to include missions protecting critical infrastructure, as NATO allies strengthen maritime security in the region.
The three NATO members reached the agreement on Wednesday during the alliance’s summit in Ankara, according to Romania’s defense ministry.
The task force was created in 2024 to address the threat posed by floating mines in the Black Sea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the operation has neutralized more than 150 mines across key trade routes, with Turkey carrying out the majority of the clearance operations.
Under the expanded mission, the force will also focus on safeguarding strategic infrastructure, including energy facilities, telecommunications networks and undersea pipelines.
Focus on Black Sea energy security
Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey all have gas exploration or production projects in the Black Sea, increasing the importance of protecting maritime infrastructure.
Romania’s offshore Neptun Deep gas project is expected to begin production in 2027, which would make the country the European Union’s largest gas producer.
“Protecting critical infrastructure in the Black Sea requires a complex, integrated, and long-term approach,” Romania’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that Romanian naval forces, working alongside regional partners, maintain a permanent presence in the area, including across Romania’s entire Exclusive Economic Zone, providing both deterrence and the ability to respond quickly to threats.
Security concerns continue after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The Black Sea has become an increasingly important security area since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Romania, which shares a 650-kilometre land border with Ukraine, has reported repeated incidents involving Russian drones entering its airspace over the past four years, as well as floating mines affecting important trade and energy routes.
In May, a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in southeastern Romania, injuring two people. It was the first time during the war in Ukraine that a densely populated area in a NATO country had been hit and caused injuries.
