Bloomberg reported that Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria have signed a memorandum of understanding to find and clear drifting sea mines in the Black Sea to facilitate safe transport of Ukrainian grain exports.
Mines drifting into specific areas of the Black Sea as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be the focus of the initiative led by Turkey. Russia and Ukraine are both major producers and exporters of grain, and the war increasingly has threatened the safe passage of shipments.
The memorandum of understanding was signed on Jan. 11 in Istanbul, the first major joint action of Black Sea nations since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent forces into Ukraine in February 2022. Turkey brokered a United Nations-backed agreement later that year to ensure the free passage of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea, but Russia abandoned the deal in July 2023.
Ukraine has since transported nearly 15 million tonnes of cargo, mainly foodstuffs, via its alternative Black Sea corridor that runs along the coastline near Romania and Bulgaria toward Turkey since mid-September. Strong shipments are also needed to clear a larger-than-expected harvest. Ukraine officials expect a harvest of 79 million tonnes of grain and oilseeds in 2023-24, with an exportable surplus of 50 million tonnes. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukraine comprised 9% of global wheat exports, 15% of maize and 44% of sunflower oil.