The article examines the current stance and military balance between the Russian and NATO forces in the Baltic and the Black Sea regions, as well as Russian actions to undermine the security of the Black Sea region. The current capacity of the Russian forces in the occupied Crimea and the Kremlin’s power projection are studied.
For the last few years, the Black Sea region has become a top priority of the Ukrainian foreign policy. However, due to the years of ignorance and absence of a strategic vision, Ukraine has not used all opportunities, while many projects, such as BLACKSEAFOR, cannot be used anymore due to the Russian aggression. In this…
The perseverance of transactionalism in the global arena has deep implications for the security governance of the Black Sea region. In particular, for Turkey, the linkage between the Syria crisis with the Black Sea region due to Russia’s increasing presence in the Middle East has augmented its sense of insecurity. This paper thus attempts to…
The energy picture of the Black Sea region is being changed with new energy infrastructure and ongoing attempts of the Russian Federation to enhance its energy influence on other countries. The article focuses on analysing these transformations, their consequences, the current energy problems, and possible threats produced by Russia using energy facilities for military purposes….
This article deals with Japan’s relations with the Black Sea region. They are examined through evolution of Japan’s foreign policy, including relations with post-Soviet countries. Introduction of the value-oriented diplomacy and the concept of “active pacifism” contributed greatly to Japan’s further involvement with the region. It is believed that strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and…
After the illegal annexation of Crimea, as well as Russia’s military campaigns in Georgia, eastern Ukraine, and most recently Syria and Libya, Turkey’s role in the Black Sea basin has considerably increased both for the regional countries and for the NATO allies. This article will focus on Turkey’s evolving stance in the region, starting with…
Security of NATO’s eastern flank depends a lot on the situation in the Black Sea region. Today the Alliance is trying to develop a common strategy on this issue. In this process, it is highly important to appropriately assess littoral countries’ role and capabilities in the common security architecture. Georgia is one of the essential…
Russian activities during the last few years aimed to control and limit navigation in the Black Sea as well as the Kerch incident of 2018 provide researchers with substantial data to predict possible developments for 2020. In this article, the author analyses the worst-case scenario and proposes a set of preventive actions. In 2020, obstacles…
NATO’s eastern flank in the Black Sea is a fractured security space that requires a special tailored approach. It is the Black Sea where Russia has chosen to test NATO’s resolve by the open use of force. The article argues that the transactionalist mode that Russia offers as a strategic basis for interaction with the…
The US remains the only true superpower with a global reach. In reaching out to the Black Sea, the US has a variety of tools and levers: diplomatic, political, economic, and military. It acts here unilaterally and also as a team member. Does the Black Sea area belong to the list of priorities for the…
