Romania and Bulgaria create hub to counter Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea

The countries are developing the concept of a joint security hub in the Black Sea, in particular, for monitoring the routes of the shadow fleet and demining the water area.

Romania and Bulgaria are making progress in creating a security hub to control shipping in the Black Sea, in particular to identify the routes of the Russian shadow fleet. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Oana-Silvia Coiu, writes “European Pravda”.

Coiu clarified that there is no such threat directly in the Romanian port of Constanta, but stressed the need to protect the entire water area.

“We have made progress together with Bulgaria in the concept of an EU security hub, and we are also conducting demining together with Bulgaria and Turkey. And Ukraine plays a significant role in the efforts to demine the Black Sea,” the head of the Romanian Foreign Ministry added.

Separately, the minister stressed the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia.

“We really need and are working on the next package of sanctions. On the Romanian side, we are implementing the law that we finalized last year to increase penalties for those who seek to evade sanctions,” Tsoi noted.

USM also previously reported that German naval drones will be able to monitor the Russian “shadow fleet” in the Baltic Sea.