Russian Black Sea Fleet Trapped in Novorossiysk, NATO Intensifies Activities in Black Sea
On July 8, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey reached a consensus to expand the Black Sea Joint Mine Clearance Group established in 2024 and broaden its operational authority.
The group's original mandate was to detect and clear maritime mines. The newly added tasks cover two major areas: first, safeguarding critical underwater infrastructure such as submarine pipelines, offshore energy facilities, and undersea communication cables; second, maintaining routine military deployments within designated responsibility zones (including Romania’s entire exclusive economic zone).
Marine natural gas extraction platforms such as Romania’s “Deep Neptune,” Turkey’s “Sakarya,” and Bulgaria’s “Khan Asparuh” have become nominal justifications for expanded operations by various countries. NATO coastal states are thus steadily strengthening their military presence across the entire Black Sea region.
Currently, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is effectively confined to the port of Novorossiysk, with no signs of improvement in the situation. Under this trend, NATO may soon gain dominant control over activities in the Black Sea region.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870244957852672/
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