2023-12-17 01:00:17
By PortalPortuario Editorial Staff/Archyde.com Agency
@PortalPortuario
Türkiye, Romania and Bulgaria They plan to sign an agreement in January on a joint plan to clear mines floating in the Black Sea as a result of the war in Ukraine, the minister of Turkish defender, Yasar Guler. The explosive devices have been placed in Ukrainian and Russian ports, but – due to the current – they unravel and end up in other points of that maritime area, affecting ships from non-belligerent countries.
The announcement came following months of talks between NATO allies.
The Black Sea states Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria met with officials from Georgia, Poland and Ukraine in April 2022 to discuss demining following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Defense ministers from the three countries also held talks regarding the plan at a NATO meeting in Brussels in October, and in Ankara last month as they worked to finalize the initiative.
Speaking to reporters at a meeting in Ankara, Guler said the “Trilateral Initiative” is underway. For now it would only include Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, and their defense ministers planned to hold a signing ceremony in Istanbul on January 11.
“Due to the war between Ukraine and Russia, there are mines placed in both Ukrainian and Russian ports. These sometimes unravel and reach our straits due to the current,” Guler said.
“Our mine clearance vessels will carry out constant patrols to the end of Romania’s (maritime) borders,” he added.
Britain said on Monday it would transfer two minehunting ships from the Royal Navy to the Ukrainian Navy, while establishing a new maritime defense coalition with Norway will help strengthen Ukraine’s maritime operations.
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