The Changing Tides оf Black Sea Power Dynamics. Freedom of Navigation and Connectivity in the Black Sea Region

Ten years after the illegal annexation of Crimea and two years after the start of the war in Ukraine, the Russian ambition of establishing dominance over the Black Sea is more apparent than ever. By launching attacks on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, improvising a naval route which hugs the coasts of NATO member-states and utilizing the Danube as an alternative to the Black Sea for its shipments, Ukraine has been able to continue exporting goods to the rest of the world, something which is imperative for a war-torn economy. Despite the successes of Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression, a long-term strategy is needed in order to ensure the security and economic prosperity of the region. Despite NATO recognizing Russia as a threat to the region, the United States adopting a strategy for the region in the form of the Black Sea Security Act, and various bi- and multilateral partnerships emerging, the tension in the region still remains high within littoral states.Ten years after the illegal annexation of Crimea and two years after the start of the war in Ukraine, the Russian ambition of establishing dominance over the Black Sea is more apparent than ever. By launching attacks on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, improvising a naval route which hugs the coasts of NATO member-states and utilizing the Danube as an alternative to the Black Sea for its shipments, Ukraine has been able to continue exporting goods to the rest of the world, something which is imperative for a war-torn economy. Despite the successes of Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression, a long-term strategy is needed in order to ensure the security and economic prosperity of the region. Despite NATO recognizing Russia as a threat to the region, the United States adopting a strategy for the region in the form of the Black Sea Security Act, and various bi- and multilateral partnerships emerging, the tension in the region still remains high within littoral states.