01879nas a2200229   4500000000100000000000100001008004100002260000900043653001400052653001300066653001500079653002200094653000900116653001200125653002500137653001300162100001900175245007500194300001000269490000700279520136300286       2023                            d  c202310aBlack Sea10aBulgaria10aDeterrence10amaritime presence10aNATO10aRomania10atrilateral relations10aTürkiye1 aAlim Clinceanu00aMurky Tides: Improving NATO's Defensive Posture in the Black Sea Basin  a59-710 v223 a<p>Since Russia annexed Crimea and its war of aggression against Ukraine, the security environment of the Black Sea has undergone significant changes. The increased Russian military presence in the Black Sea basin has posed a challenge to NATO&#039;s strategic interests, including energy security and the preservation of free navigation. This policy-focused article examines ways to enhance trilateral cooperation in the Black Sea region among the three NATO littoral states--Romania, Türkiye, and Bulgari--to counter Russian influence. This influence has been a relatively overlooked aspect of NATO&#039;s strategic concerns, which has yet to produce a comprehensive strategy for the region. Greater trilateral cooperation among NATO members with coastal access to the Black Sea is envisioned as a step towards the development of a NATO Black Sea strategy and the potential creation of a joint fleet. The three countries have already launched successful initiatives, such as the establishment of MCM Black Sea in January 2024, which serves as a platform for collaborative maritime demining in response to the Russian-Ukrainian war. This article aims to untangle the complexities of expanding NATO&#039;s presence in the Black Sea basin and offers recommendations for both domestic and international policies to advance NATO’s strategic objectives.</p>