Overview

• Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria have signed an agreement to clear mines in the Black Sea, which have been a threat to shipping since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine.
• The deal establishes a Mine Countermeasures Task Group among the three NATO allies to deal with the mines.
• Sea mines have posed a threat to Ukraine's Black Sea export routes, and several commercial ships have been hit.
• The initiative is limited to the three countries, but may include other Black Sea states after the war ends.
• Turkey last week refused entry to the Black Sea for two minesweeping vessels donated to Ukraine by Britain.