The Minister of National Defence, Angel Tilvar, signed on Thursday, January 11, together with his Turkish and Bulgarian counterparts, the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Task Force to Counter Sea Mines in the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Black Sea/MCM Black Sea, the first initiative of such kind for the allied littoral states.

The Turkish Minister of Defence, Yashar Guler, and the Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Defence, Atanas Zaprianov, participated in the signing ceremony on behalf of the initiators, alongside the Romanian minister.

During the official signing ceremony of the Memorandum, the Romanian official emphasized the importance of this project for the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, but also for the allied deterrence and defence posture on the eastern flank.

'The development of this project was one of the priorities of my mandate, because it is our responsibility, as riparian states and NATO members, to make every possible effort for the safety of this sea, with the support and involvement of our allies. The aggressiveness and contempt of the Russian Federation towards the international law norms turns the Black Sea not only into regional problem, but one with global implications', Minister Tilvar stated.

The Minister of National Defence pointed out that the security of the Black Sea region remains an absolute priority for Romania, and the Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Task Group to Counter Sea Mines in the Black Sea will allow other allied and partner states to contribute to this initiative.

By launching MCM Black Sea we demonstrate our solidarity and shared commitment to counter the threat of the drifting sea mines in the Black Sea. I'm looking forward with confidence to the involvement, in the future, of NATO's littoral partners, NATO's Standing Maritime Groups and other allied states, thus strengthening cooperation and increasing interoperability while ensuring the safety of the Black Sea and of the Euro-Atlantic region. At national level, we strive to achieve more. Last month, the first of the two mine hunters purchased from Great Britain entered the service of the Romanian Naval Forces. This new capability, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, will significantly contribute to the fulfillment of the missions conducted to identify and neutralize the mines in the Black Sea', the Romanian minister highlighted.

In addressing the essential issue of Black Sea security, Angel Tilvar stated that other initiatives, such as NATO's Air Policing Missions, have an important role in maintaining regional security.
'I wish to express my sincere appreciation for our valuable ally, Turkey, for the recent deployment of four F-16 aircraft and 80 troops to one of our main air bases,' Minister Tilvar said.

The Romanian official emphasized that NATO's full attention must be paid to the security developments in the Black Sea region where, while breaking the international law norms, the Russian Federation continues its indiscriminate attacks against the Ukrainian civil infrastructure, causing significant destruction, with major impact on the civilian population.

The Press Office