NATO countries seek to reach agreement on minesweeping force in Black Sea - media

Bloomberg reports.

It is noted that the new unit, which is an initiative of the three Black Sea NATO countries, will be able to protect a temporary grain corridor.

The three countries' deputy defense ministers are scheduled to meet in Ankara on November 22 in an attempt to finalize the details of the demining unit's tasks. It is unclear whether a final agreement will also be signed after the two-day meeting, the three sources said.

Although the work of the minesweepers will not be considered a NATO operation, the new unit will be the first joint action by the Alliance countries in the Black Sea since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine.

• On October 10, Bloomberg reported, citing anonymous officials, that Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria plan to create a special forces unit in November to clear their territorial waters of the Black Sea from the effects of Russia's war against Ukraine.
• On October 21, it was reported that these countries were preparing to launch an operation to clear the Black Sea of the consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine.