Ramping Up Engagement in the Black Sea Region
Russia’s militarization and build-up in occupied Crimea, along with its recent aggression near the Kerch Strait, highlight the volatility of the Black Sea region. Five U.S. allies, including three NATO member states, have coastlines along the Black Sea. Furthermore, control of Crimea has allowed Russia to use the Black Sea as a platform to launch and support naval operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
American engagement has declined in the region, notably the U.S. and allied naval presence in the Black Sea, which has declined significantly since 2014. In September 2018, a rotation of U.S. Marines with the Black Sea Rotational Force who have regularly deployed to Romania since 2010 were removed.15
Shawn Snow, “No More Marine Rotations to the Black Sea. The Corps Is Focusing Here Instead,” Marine Corps Times, November 29, 2018, https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2018/11/29/no-more-marine-rotations-to-the-black-sea-the-corps-is-focusing-on-the-arctic-instead/ (accessed January 8, 2019). The Marines now comprise an expanded Marine deployment to Norway. U.S. officials have indicated an increase in “joint rotational forces” in Romania following the departure of the Marines rotating with the Black Sea Rotational Force.
In 2019, the U.S. should work with allies to establish a regular presence in the Black Sea, in accordance with the Montreux Convention.16
Luke Coffey, “Brussels NATO Summit 2018: Renewed Focus on the Black Sea Needed,” Heritage Foundation Issue Brief No. 4872, June 26, 2018, https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/brussels-nato-summit-2018-renewed-focus-the-black-sea-needed.
Additionally, President Trump should consider a presidential visit to Romania to highlight U.S. cooperation in the region, and support for greater economic cooperation with allies in the region, notably through the Three Seas Initiative. Romania is one of only eight NATO member states to meet the 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense spending benchmark, and spends the second-highest proportion of its defense funds on equipment, including a deal to buy $3.9 billion of U.S. patriot missiles.17
Jen Judson, “It’s Official: Romania Signs Deal to Buy US Missile Defense System,” DefenseNews, November 29, 2017, https://www.defensenews.com/land/2017/11/30/its-official-romania-signs-deal-to-buy-us-missile-defense-system/.
Romania also hosts an Aegis Ashore site, and its Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base is a major logistics and supply hub for U.S. equipment shipped, and personnel traveling, to the Middle East.18
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Dakota L. Wood, ed., Index of U.S. Military Strength 2018, “Assessing the Global Operating Environment: Europe,” October 4, 2018, https://www.heritage.org/military-strength/assessing-the-global-operating-environment/europe.
A presidential visit would be a fitting recognition of a worthy U.S. ally and would underscore the importance of security in the Black Sea region for U.S. interests in Europe.
Conclusion
The U.S. has laid out its policy priorities for a prosperous and secure Europe, and taken some important steps to advance their implementation. This year will be a year of inflection in Europe. By addressing these six key focal points in 2019, the U.S. can react to political and security shifts as they occur, take advantage of opportunities such as Brexit, and place U.S. policy in Europe on a favorable course for advancing U.S. interests in the region.
—Daniel Kochis is Policy Analyst in European Affairs in the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, at The Heritage Foundation.
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/us-policy-europe-six-priorities-2019
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