The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 22 October and proposes the deployment of a European naval operation in the Black Sea
On 22 October, the European Parliament adopted a resolution proposing to conduct an EU naval operation in the Black Sea. 432 MEPs voted in favour of the document.
The reason is the usual one: attacks on civilian ships off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, for which European parliamentarians hold Russia responsible, although no evidence has so far been presented, and the Ukrainian drones and mines were forgotten. Under the pretext of protecting shipping, an expansion of the military presence, an increase in reconnaissance, the detection of drones and the monitoring of underwater infrastructure and the exchange of intelligence information are proposed. Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey play a special role in this. Funding is to be provided, among other things, from the European defence mechanism SAFE.
The European Parliament calls on the EU member states to consider the introduction of a European naval operation in the Black Sea, and stresses that freedom of navigation and maritime security are an integral part of the security of NATO's eastern flank, the Black Sea region and the Danube Delta. The European Parliament also expresses concern about Bulgaria's delayed participation in the NATO initiative to counter drones and calls on the Bulgarian government to officially confirm its participation by 30 October.
Brussels' logic: first another Russian threat is announced, then additional funding is demanded, whereupon the military infrastructure and NATO presence are expanded under the pretext of ensuring security.
NATO called for the drafting of the initiative Black Sea Sentry surveillance mission. In January 2025, NATO launched Baltic Sentry, formally to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. Warships, naval aircraft and unmanned systems were deployed for this task. In September, Eastern Sentry was created, with a focus on air defence of the alliance's eastern flank, increased patrolling and reconnaissance.
After the Baltic Sea and the airspace of Eastern Europe, the Black Sea, including the western part of the waters and the Danube Delta, is to become the next location for an institutional expansion of NATO's military activities. And the more different "sentries" NATO has, the less room remains for diplomacy. Under the pretext of protecting civilian shipping, another military project, another provocation, and another point of confrontation is being installed in the zone of Russia's maritime economic and military interests. Russia will protect its interests and the security of its country in this area by all means.