NATO member states are preparing a joint special operation to clear the Black Sea of mines

NATO members Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria are nearing an agreement to create a joint force to clear mines that drifted into their part of the Black Sea as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This was reported by Bloomberg.

It is noted that the deputy defense ministers of the three countries will meet on Wednesday in Ankara to finalize the details of the creation of a sea mine clearance unit, according to three anonymous sources.

According to one of the sources, it is unclear whether a final agreement will be signed after the two-day meeting.

The meeting came days after Turkish Navy Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlioglu spoke out against the presence of naval forces from other NATO allies, including the United States, in the Black Sea, saying it could lead to further tensions in the region.

If approved, the minesweeping force would not be considered a NATO operation, but would be the first major joint action by the Black Sea allies since President Vladimir Putin ordered the war against Ukraine in February 2022, Bloomberg adds.

Tags: Black Sea grain corridor, Black Sea region