The key facts

  • On October 28 in Sofia, the defense ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey agreed on a trilateral coordination mechanism for Black Sea shipping security
  • The parties condemned recent attacks on commercial vessels and called for their immediate cessation
  • The next political meeting is scheduled in Bucharest, and a meeting of military experts in Ankara

Agreement in Sofia

Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey have agreed to establish a trilateral coordination mechanism to ensure the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. The agreement was reached on October 28 at a meeting in Sofia attended by the defense ministers of the three countries; it was reported by Point.md, citing Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov,as retold by the outlet Zamon.uz.

What the mechanism provides for

According to Stoyanov, under the new mechanism the countries will hold regular consultations, exchange information and define practical measures to strengthen regional security. The parties also agreed to improve capabilities for monitoring the situation in the Black Sea, providing early warning of threats and responding promptly to incidents. At the meeting, the parties condemned recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and called for an immediate end to the attacks threatening maritime transport and infrastructure.

Next steps

Following the meeting, it was announced that the next talks at the political level are planned to be held in Bucharest,while a meeting of military experts will take place in Ankara. All three countries are NATO members; the stated goals of the cooperation are reducing tensions in the region, protecting freedom of navigation and regional stability. It is noted that, for now, this concerns an agreement on a format for consultations and information exchange: the parties only intend to define specific practical measures within the mechanism.