site.btaBucharest Hosts 3rd Black Sea Maritime Forum

The 3rd Black Sea Maritime Forum, hosted and organized by the Romanian Naval Forces, took place in Bucharest from April 3 to 5, 2024, the Bulgarian Navy said in a press release on Friday.

"The forum focused on the global consequences of instability in the Black Sea, a topic that is of particularly topical relevance and is entirely consistent with the situation in the Black Sea region that has been radically and rapidly changing since the beginning of Russia's military invasion in Ukraine," the press release said.

The discussion involved representatives of 14 countries and of basic command structures of NATO and Allies from Europe and the Mediterranean, of NGOs and diplomatic missions of the participating States.

Bulgaria was represented at the event by the Commander of the Bulgarian Navy, Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov.

Rear Admiral Mihaylov held bilateral talks with Admiral Stuart B. Munsch, Commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) and of the Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples, with Vice Admiral Gilles Boidevezi, Commander-in-Chief of the French Forces in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, and with the Chief of the Romanian Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Mihai Panait.

During the Forum, the Commander of the Bulgarian Navy conferred with the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, and with the Commander of the Georgian Coast Guard, Captain Ramaz Papidze.

"Just as at the preceding forums, the objective set by the organizers was that the discussions and exchange of views should result in reaching a common position on the options and ways to address the challenges and issues arising during the period of an ongoing armed conflict," the Bulgarian Navy said. "The forum enabled the holding of a broad-ranging discussion, the sharing of thoughts, ideas and problems which, ultimately, should lead to improved cooperation among the participants." 

"The agenda was topped by maritime security and naval cooperation during an active armed conflict concerning the navies' mission: protection of critical infrastructure and mine countermeasures. Besides this, the discussion covered issues arising directly from the conflict and the impact of hostilities. Ensuring the safety of commercial shipping, general and energy security in the region and other specific aspects of security were also considering in the course of the talks," the press release said.