Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey expand Black Sea mine-clearing force to protect critical undersea infrastructure
Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey agreed at the NATO summit in Ankara to broaden their joint Black Sea mine-clearing force to include protection of critical undersea energy and telecom infrastructure.
Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey agreed on Wednesday at the NATO summit in Ankara to broaden the mandate of their joint Black Sea mine-clearing force, adding the protection of critical undersea infrastructure to its missions. The amendment to the 2024 memorandum of understanding was signed by Romanian interim defence minister Radu Miruță, and President Nicușor Dan confirmed the expansion in a social media post.
Background of the task group
The Mine Countermeasures Task Group Black Sea (MCM Black Sea TG) was established on 11 January 2024 by the three NATO allies bordering the Black Sea, in response to the threat of floating mines following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the force has neutralised more than 150 drifting mines along vital commercial routes. Its primary mission is ensuring freedom of navigation through surveillance, mine-neutralisation operations, and search-and-rescue activities.
- Memorandum of Understanding signed by Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey establishing MCM Black Sea TG
- Amendment signed at NATO Summit in Ankara expanding mandate to protect critical undersea infrastructure
- Bulgaria assumes rotating command of the task group; Romanian minesweeper 'Căpitan Constantin Dumitrescu' begins 11th activation
What the expanded mandate covers
The new mandate extends the group's responsibilities to safeguarding submarine critical infrastructure, including offshore platforms, fixed installations, energy projects, telecommunications cables and pipelines. All three countries have gas exploration or production projects in the Black Sea. Romania's Neptun Deep offshore gas project is scheduled to begin production in 2027, which would make Romania the largest gas producer in the European Union.
From now on, our cooperation in the Black Sea will also cover the protection of critical submarine infrastructure, including offshore platforms and fixed installations. These are essential for our economic and energy security.
Command and upcoming operations
Command of the task group rotates every six months. Turkey currently holds command, and Bulgaria is set to take over on Thursday, 9 July. The Romanian minesweeper M 271 "Căpitan Constantin Dumitrescu" will participate in the 11th activation of the group from 9 to 24 July. The Romanian defence ministry stressed that the naval forces maintain a permanent presence in the entire Romanian Exclusive Economic Zone, serving both as a deterrent and as an immediate reaction tool.
The protection of critical infrastructure in the Black Sea requires a complex, integrated and long-term approach, and MCM Black Sea TG is proof of the interoperability of regional partners and an initiative that actively contributes to strengthening security in the Black Sea basin.
Regional security context
President Nicușor Dan also announced that the Romanian Coast Guard is testing an autonomous maritime surveillance system along the Black Sea coast, part of broader efforts to strengthen monitoring capabilities on the country's eastern flank. Romania shares a 650-kilometre land border with Ukraine, and Russian drones have repeatedly entered Romanian airspace. The expansion of the mine task force comes amid ongoing efforts by NATO allies to secure the Black Sea region against hybrid threats.
