Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey join forces for Black Sea mine countermeasures coalition

BELFAST — Officials from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey have signed an agreement to stand up a trilateral Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Black Sea task force, aimed at countering Russia’s aggression in the region.

A memorandum of understanding signing ceremony was held today in Istanbul, Turkey, to mark the occasion.

Previewing the pact a day earlier, the Romanian Ministry of Defence said in a statement that the initiative by the “three allies” is aimed at “facilitating the safety of navigation by countering the threats posed by sea mines” in the Black Sea.

The task force will operate under a rotating command every six months and include two activations per rotation, while delivering continuous “vigilance and readiness” and contributing to NATO’s deterrence posture in the Eastern flank, added the ministry.

The MCM partners said they are also open to NATO member littoral states, NATO Standing Maritime Groups and non-littoral allies joining in the Black Sea activities.

Speaking to the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington on Wednesday, Todor Tagarev, Bulgaria’s minister of defence, directly tied the establishment of the new MCM task force to Russian actions in the Black Sea, amid Moscow’s continued blockade of maritime traffic in the area, past bombings of ports in Odesa and Mykolayiv and abandonment of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

“Russia has been blocking maritime traffic for many months now,” he explained. “There are a number of sea mines that present risks… to our own cause, the same for [the threat of Russian] UAV and missile” attacks.

Additionally, Tagarev said that between July and December Russia had blocked a “good portion of our Exclusive Economic Zone,” by holding military drills. He previously condemned the EEZ block, calling it a “provocation” by Moscow, according to various reports from September.

To face up to Russia’s maritime threat, he said additional co-operation with NATO allies was needed.

“Our primary measure [to respond to Russian aggression] is the establishment of the mine countermeasures task force Black Sea, between the Republic of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria,” said Tagarev.

He said that priority has been given to investment in new multipurpose modular patrol vessel (MMPV) to strengthen Bulgarian coastal defenses. Two vessels are under contract with Bulgarian shipbuilder MTG Delfin, with a first hull launched at the company’s Varna shipyard in August.

That procurement is one of three that forms the backbone of Sofia’s modernization efforts, alongside acquisition of a squadron of US F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and 183 Stryker combat vehicles. Lockheed Martin has started production of the Bulgarian aircraft at its Greenville, SC, production line, which are due in country next year, according to Tagarev.

The Stryker order, valued at an approximate cost of $1.5 billion, alongside supporting equipment, was first approved by the US State Department in September. Without elaborating, Tagarev said that an order for 3D military radars will go ahead “soon.”

More broadly, he appeared to refute past reports and speculation around Bulgarian industry providing Ukraine with 155mm ammunition, though admitted Sofia does want to produce them eventually.

“I’m not aware of a deal for those munitions directly to Ukraine, maybe through some intermediaries they may have already been exported, but certainly our interest is to go into the NATO standard,” he said.

Bulgaria continues to send Soviet era shells to Ukraine, however, with the minister adding that some Bulgarian suppliers have submitted a “few proposals” to increase industrial capacity and produce 155 ammo shells, linked to the European Unions Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) regulation.

Despite opposition parties pro-Russian stance and their campaigning for Tagarev’s resignation, he said two-thirds of Bulgaria’s parliament continues to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia.