Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania to establish Black Sea coordination mechanism

The defence ministers of Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania met in Sofia after unmanned-vehicle attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. The three countries decided to establish a trilateral coordination mechanism for regular consultations and information sharing to strengthen maritime security.

Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania agreed to establish a trilateral coordination mechanism to strengthen maritime security in the Black Sea. The decision was made at a meeting of the three countries' defence ministers and chiefs of general staff at the Boyana Government Residence in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital.

Türkiye was represented by Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu; Bulgaria by Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov and Chief of General Staff Admiral Emil Eftimov; and Romania by Defence Minister Ştefan-Radu Oprea and Chief of General Staff General Gheorghiţă Vlad.

Attacks on commercial vessels condemned

The ministers condemned unmanned-vehicle attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. Bulgarian Defence Minister Stoyanov said the three countries had called for an immediate end to attacks that put the safety of commercial vessels and maritime infrastructure at risk.

Turkish Naval Forces' TCG Akçay minehunter in the Black Sea (archive)

Minister Güler said a commercial vessel had been hit by three unmanned maritime vehicles in Bulgaria's maritime jurisdiction on the day of the meeting. Bulgarian media reported that the container ship was targeted about 21 nautical miles off Shabla.

Mechanism to enable regular consultations and information sharing

The mechanism will be used for regular consultations, information sharing and identifying concrete steps to enhance regional security. The parties also agreed to increase situational awareness in the region and improve early-warning systems. The next meetings are planned to take place at the political level in Bucharest and in Ankara with the participation of military experts.

Güler calls on Russia and Ukraine to exercise restraint

Güler said he was deeply concerned about the increase in attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, adding, "I believe it would be useful to urge both sides to be more careful." Emphasising that Türkiye reserved all its legal rights regarding attacks on Turkish-flagged and Turkish-operated vessels, Güler said the implementation of the Montreux Convention since the beginning of the war had helped prevent the conflict from spreading.

Güler said other countries could contribute to the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group (MCM Black Sea) without sending vessels, subject to the approval of the member countries. Amendments to the task group's memorandum of understanding, which also cover the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, were signed on 7 July on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.

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Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania to establish Black Sea coordination mechanism