This region is becoming a critical point for European and global security against the background of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine.
American senators, members of the Senate subcommittee on international relations on Europe and regional security cooperation, Mitt Romney (Republican Party) and Gene Shaheen (Democrat Party) introduced a new bipartisan bill that calls on the administration of US President Joe Biden to develop a strategy for the Black Sea region. This region is becoming a critical point for European and global security against the background of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine. Senators Tom Tillis (R), Chris Coons (D), Roger Wicker (R) and Ben Cardin (D) are the first co-sponsors of the bill.
“The Black Sea has become increasingly critical as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to wage an unprovoked war against Ukraine, and it has become clear that the United States must have both a strategy and a presence in the region. Our bill aims to achieve this by requiring the Biden administration to develop a strategy to strengthen coordination between the US, NATO and partners in the Black Sea to enhance security, support economic prosperity and advance democracy,” said Senator Romney.
“As Putin continues his war against Ukraine, the United States must be prepared to address the security challenges for Europe and the United States that Putin has created in the near and long term. This is exactly what our bill seeks to do by looking at a critically important geopolitical region: the Black Sea,” Senator Shahin said.
“Putin has already demonstrated the high strategic value he places on the Black Sea region by invading to Georgia in 2008, followed by the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent invasion of Ukraine this year,” Shahin added.
Controlling access to the Black Sea is fundamental to Putin's dream of “building a Russian empire,” she said, and the United States cannot let that happen.
“We are already seeing the consequences of Putin's actions by blocking key ports in Ukraine, which provoked the world food crisis. His war against Ukraine today has global consequences, so strategic action is crucial. Our bipartisan bill calls on the Biden administration to make U.S. policy in the region a priority by developing an interagency report, followed by a strategy to strengthen economic ties, democratic institutions, and strengthen military assistance and coordination between the U.S., NATO, and partners in the region,” Shaheen said.< /p>
In particular, the bill provides for the following:
- calling for a more sustainable foreign policy toward the Black Sea region, including increased cooperation between the US, NATO, and the EU and strengthening economic ties between America and the Black Sea region;
- requires an interagency report from the US presidential administration describing existing efforts, aimed at supporting democracy, security and economic prosperity in the Black Sea region.
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