Romania, Bulgaria, Türkiye sign Black Sea mine task group amendment

Romania, Bulgaria and Türkiye on Wednesday signed an amendment to the trilateral Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group memorandum, expanding the alliance's mandate to protect critical underwater infrastructure during a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.

Expanded security mandate

Romania's Defense Ministry said in a statement that the amendment reflects the three allies' shared commitment to strengthening security in the Black Sea and enhancing allied maritime cooperation. The ministry said protecting critical underwater infrastructure requires a "complex, integrated and long-term approach," describing the task group as an example of regional interoperability that actively contributes to security in the Black Sea basin.

The memorandum establishing the Mine Countermeasures Black Sea Task Group was signed by the three countries on Jan. 11, 2024, creating the first trilateral initiative of its kind among the NATO allies bordering the Black Sea. The task group's primary mission is to ensure freedom of navigation through surveillance, mine countermeasure operations, the neutralization of maritime hazards and search-and-rescue activities.

Rotational command structure

Since becoming operational on July 1, 2024, the task group has carried out 10 activations. Command rotates every six months among the three countries — Türkiye currently holds the position, which will pass to Bulgaria on Wednesday. Romania's minehunter Captain Constantin Dumitrescu will join the group's 11th activation from July 9 to 24, supporting maritime monitoring and freedom of navigation during the multinational BREEZE 2026 exercise.