MILITARIZATION OF BLACK SEA

• Recently, the US Defence Secretary has urged more defence cooperation among friendly Black Sea countries amid Russia “militarisation” of the region.
• This came ahead of a NATO Ministers summit.

Important points:

• The Black Sea is located between Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
• It is surrounded by the Pontic, Caucasus, and Crimean Mountains in the south, east and north respectively.
• The Black Sea is also connected to the Sea of Azov by the Strait of Kerch.
• The Turkish straits system – the Dardanelles, Bosporus and Marmara Sea – forms a transitional zone between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
• The bordering countries of Black Sea are: Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.
• There is a significant absence of oxygen in the water (anoxic waters).

US Interest in Black Sea:

• The Black Sea is bordered by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. All these countries are NATO countries.
• Due to this faceoff between NATO countries and Russia, the Balcksea is a region of strategic importance & a potential maritime flashpoint.
• NATO members Turkey, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria are in the Black Sea, but warships from the US, UK and other NATO allies also have made increasingly frequent visits in a show of support to Ukraine.
• Russia has frequently responded to NATO warships visits near Crimea, casting them as destabilizing.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT