Türkiye, Bulgaria And Romania Activate MCM BLACK SEA Task Group
On July 1, 2024, the activation ceremony of the MCM BLACK SEA Task Group was held in Istanbul, attended by the Navy Chiefs of Türkiye, Bulgaria, and Romania.
As part of the “Trilateral Initiative” launched with Romania and Bulgaria under the leadership of Türkiye, the Mine Countermeasures Black Sea (MCM BLACK SEA) Task Group was established to ensure maritime security against the threat of mines in the Black Sea.
The MCM BLACK SEA Committee Meeting and Signing Ceremony was held in Istanbul on July 1, 2024, with the participation of Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Mihai Panait, Commander of the Romanian Navy, and Rear Admiral Kiril Yordanov Mihaylov, Commander of the Bulgarian Navy.
For the next six months, the Turkish Naval Forces will lead the MCM Black Sea Task Group. They will contribute the command ship A-574 GÜNGÖR DURMUŞ Logistic Support Ship and the M-270 AKÇAY Minesweeper. The Bulgarian Naval Forces will join with their M-33 STRUMA Minesweeper, along with Romanian MCM vessel ROSSublieutenant Alexandru Axente.
The primary objective of the MCM Black Sea Task Group is to ensure the safety of maritime traffic in the Black Sea. This will be achieved through the surveillance, identification, and neutralization of sea mines, as well as conducting related search and rescue operations.
On January 11, 2024, Türkiye, Bulgaria, and Romania signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Istanbul as part of the “Trilateral Initiative” launched by three countries to counter the sea mine threat in the Black Sea. This agreement will be valid for three years. The task group will be activated for the first time from July 1 to December 31, 2024. In 2025, the command of the task group will be assumed by Bulgaria in the first half of the year and by the Romanian Naval Forces in the second half.
Author’s comments:
This initiative is crucial for addressing the threat posed by drifting mines that have been endangering maritime traffic in the northwestern Black Sea since the Russian-Ukrainian war began nearly 2.5 years ago. Over this period, these mines have drifted to the coasts of regional countries, creating significant threats and even causing damage to commercial vessels.
Ensuring navigational safety is crucial for maintaining the flow of logistics, safeguarding ships, and managing insurance costs. Additionally, this effort, undertaken by three Black Sea-bordering countries, is important for strengthening the cooperation among the three NATO member naval forces.
The challenge of countering drifting mines is far greater than clearing a fixed minefield. Due to the constant movement of these mines caused by currents and winds, they threaten all vessels in the region, regardless of their affiliation. Conducting this operation in the vast area of the Western Black Sea will be particularly demanding, especially during the winter months.