Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye to strengthen protection of critical underwater infrastructure in Black Sea

Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye are expanding the mission of the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Group to a new task of protecting critical underwater infrastructure, according to a Bulgarian government information service statement after the July 1 Cabinet meeting.

The Cabinet approved changes to the Memorandum of Understanding between the three countries for the establishment of the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Naval Group (MCM Black Sea).

With the approved amendments, the group will also perform surveillance and reconnaissance in the operation area, the main goal of which is to prevent deliberate attacks against critical infrastructure, the damage to which could affect the national security and economic interests of the three countries, the statement said.

It said that the expansion of the mandate of MCM Black Sea is a result of the growing importance of underwater infrastructure for the security of the Black Sea region and the Euro-Atlantic area.

The Mine Countermeasures Group was established in early 2024 to ensure the safety of shipping and counter the mine threat in the Black Sea.

Its activities contribute to strengthening regional security and Nato’s Eastern Flank within the framework of collective defence and deterrence, the government statement said.

(Photo: Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defence)