The upcoming activation of the Black Sea MCM is a concrete result of our close cooperation, which will contribute to strengthening the security climate in the Black Sea, strongly disrupted by the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation, Defence minister Tilvar said, as a release by the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) reads.

Minister Angel Tilvar paid a working visit to Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday and Wednesday, at the invitation of his counterpart, Yaar Guler, which aimed at preparing the missions of the Task Force for Combating Marine Mines in the Black Sea – MCM Black Sea.

According to the ministry, on this occasion, the two officials visited together several military objectives that will host the capabilities engaged by Turkey within the missions of the Task Force for Combating Sea Mines in the Black Sea – MCM Black Sea (Mine Counter-Measures Task Group Black Sea), an initiative developed by the allies bordering the Black Sea: Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

The ministers of Defense of Romania and Turkey visited military ships that are ready to carry out missions within the first joint actions of the Black Sea MCM, planned for the beginning of July, on a date that will be officially announced, soon, by the member countries of the initiative.

The Romanian side informed that the maritime dredger 30 Sublieutenant Alexandru Axente, part of the 146th Mining-Demining Division of the Romanian Naval Forces, has already raised anchor on Wednesday, June 26, from the military port of Constanta, bound for Istanbul, Turkey, to join the MCM BLACK SEA. At the same time, two officers from the Romanian Naval Forces will perform functions within the group’s general staff.

„I am certain that the activation of the Black Sea MCM, just before the NATO Summit in Washington, will send a strong signal regarding the cohesion of the Alliance and the determination of the NATO countries bordering the Black Sea to ensure freedom of navigation in the area, essential for the security of the entire region,” Angel Tilvar said, as the release reads.

During the official discussions, the „very good relations” between Romania and Turkey in the field of defence were highlighted, both bilaterally and regionally and multilaterally.

The minister of National Defensc said that by operationalizing the Black Sea MCM, the states contributing to the initiative will ensure an essential capability for strengthening freedom of navigation, as well as for increasing trust and cooperation between allied states in the field of combating sea mines adrift in the Black Sea, key objectives for the Alliance, the release also reads.

AGERPRES