New Strategy Center organized a roundtable on “The Battle for a Free and Open Black Sea” in Prague, as a partner of the GLOBSEC Forum, on 31 August.
In the current geopolitical context, the Black Sea region is reaffirming its strategic importance and impact on regional and global security. Speakers highlighted the possible developments of the war in Ukraine, the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation, the role of the Danube as the second gateway to the Black Sea after the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits. It also emphasized the need to strengthen the defense capabilities of the littoral states in order to deter Russia’s naval aggression, as well as the need for increased cooperation between NATO Black Sea states, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. The hybrid actions Russia is taking in the Black Sea jeopardize freedom of navigation, energy projects and connectivity: mines, electronic warfare that disrupts GPS signals and ship communications, abusive ship inspections, perimeter blockades of energy projects. Another topic brought up was the hybrid war Russia is waging in the Republic of Moldova to destabilize the country and remove it from its European path.

The panel was moderated by LTG (ret.) Ben Hodges, member of the NSC International Consultative Council and former Commander of US Army Europe, and the speakers were General (ret.) Philip Breedlove, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral (ret.) Ihor Kabanenko, former Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine and George Scutaru, CEO of the New Strategy Center.

This event is part of the NSC’s efforts to contribute to explaining the strategic relevance of the Black Sea and to promote Romania’s security interests.