The Changing Geopolitical Tides of the Black Sea
Volume 3, Issue 1 (2022), pp. 109–126
Pub. online: 27 February 2024
Type: Essay
Open Access
Open Access
Published
27 February 2024
27 February 2024
Abstract
The Black Sea is a strategically important connectivity hub in the wider region and beyond. This paper
examines the interests and priorities of the key stakeholders in the new geopolitical landscape, focusing on
areas such as military security, strategic connectivity, and the use of non-military means of power to promote
peace and stability. The paper adopts a conceptual approach based on the three pillars of future Euro-Atlantic
security architecture, which are closely linked to the security context of the Black Sea. It is crucial for
the future that these stakeholders work together to address the challenges and opportunities in this region.
References
2022.
A Strategic Compass for Security and Defence - For a European Union that protects its citizens,
values and interests and contributes to international peace and security.
Brussels: Council of European Union,
12. Accessed
December
4,
2022.
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-7371-2022-INIT/en/pdf
Abbasova, Vusala. 2022.
"Kazakhstan Voices Readiness to Help Ease Global Energy Crisis."
Caspian News
.
6
July. Accessed
December
3,
2022.
https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/kazakhstan-voices-readiness-to-help-ease-global-energy-crisis-2022-7-5-14/
2021.
"Agreement on measures to ensure the security of The Russian Federation and member States of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization."
Министерство иностранных дел Российской Федерации.
17
December. Accessed
December
6,
2022.
https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/rso/nato/1790803/?lang=en
Black Sea Grain Initiative.
2022.
Updates from the Joint Coordination Centre.
November
17. Accessed
December
1,
2022,
https://www.un.org/en/black-sea-grain-initiative/updates
Cahill, Ben.
2022.
"Price Cap on Russian Oil: Running to Stand Still."
November
28. Accessed
December
3,
2022.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/price-cap-russian-oil-running-stand-still
n. d.,
"Critical raw materials." Accessed
December
5,
2022.
https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials_en
Deutsche Welle A.
2022.
"Five facts on grain and the war in Ukraine."
1
November. Accessed
December
1,
2022.
https://www.dw.com/en/five-facts-on-grain-andthe-war-in-ukraine/a-62601467
Deutsche Welle B,
"Germany declares Ukraine’s Holodomor famine a genocide."
November
30. Accessed
December
1,
2022.
https://www.dw.com/en/germanydeclares-stalin-era-holodomor-famine-in-ukraine-a-genocide/a-63944665
2022.
Exports of crude oil from Russia’s ports on the Black Sea in April-July
2022.
August
12. Accessed
December
1,
2022.
https://www.blackseanews.net/en/read/193576
2022.
Joint press communiqué by Heads of State of Central Asia and the President of the European
Council.
The Council of the EU and the European Council
.
October
27. Accessed
December
3,
2022.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/10/27/joint-press-communique-heads-of-state-ofcentral-asia-and-the-president-of-the-european-council/
2022.
Kazakhstan to start oil sales via Azeri pipeline to bypass Russia.
August
12. Accessed
December
3,
2022.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/central-asia/news/kazakhstan-to-start-oil-sales-via-azeri-pipeline-to-bypass-russia/
Macias, Amanda.
2022.
Russia halts participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the UN-backed deal that
reopened Ukraine’s ports to feed countries around the world.
October
29. Accessed
December
1,
2022.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/29/russia-halts-participation-in-the-black-sea-grain-initiative.html
2021.
NATO Expansion – The Budapest Blow Up 1994.
The George Washington University.
November
24. Accessed
December
2,
2022.
https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2021-11-24/nato-expansion-budapest-blow-1994
NATO.
2022.
NATO – Russia. Setting the record straight.
September
21. Accessed
December
6,
2022.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/115204.htm
Northam, Jackie.
2022.
What to know about the West’s new efforts to slash Russia’s oil
revenue.
December
2.
December
3,
2022.
https://www.npr.org/2022/12/02/1139477837/russia-oil-revenue-sanctions-price-cap-g7-eu-import-ban
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
2022.
Record Volumes Of Grain Leaving Ukraine Ports Despite Russia’s Withdrawal From Export
Agreement.
October
31. Accessed
December
2,
2022.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-grain-exports-russia-blockade/32108707.html
Romano, Valentina.
2022.
EU signs ‘strategic partnership’ with Kazakhstan on green hydrogen, raw
materials.
November
8. Accessed
December
5,
2022.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/eu-signs-strategic-partnership-with-kazakhstan-on-green-hydrogen-raw-materials/
Sabadus, Aura. 2021.
Why the Black Sea could emerge as the world’s next great energy
battleground.
March
30. Accessed
December
3,
2021.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/why-the-black-sea-could-emerge-as-the-worlds-next-great-energy-battleground/
Sam, Jones. 2022.
German president Steinmeier admits ‘bitter failure’ of policy on Russia.
October
28. Accessed
December
5,
2022.
https://www.ft.com/content/612262dd-b0e4-4136-90ab-8065f5cd563f
2022.
"Shaheen, Romney Unveil New Bipartisan Bill to Establish U.S. Strategy Toward Black Sea
Region."
Senator Jeanne Shaheen Website.
July
12, Accessed
December
5,
2022.
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-romney-unveil-new-bipartisan-bill-to-establish-us-strategy-toward-black-sea-region
Skelton, Ike. 2010.
"H.R.6523 - Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2011."
House - Armed Services; Budget
.
December
15. Accessed
December
3,
2022.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/6523
2022.
Statement by President von der Leyen with Azerbaijani President
Aliyev.
July
18. Accessed
December
3,
2022.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/da/statement_22_4583
TANAP Natural gas Transmission Company.
n.d.
The Southern Gas Corridor. Accessed
December
3,
2022.
https://www.tanap.com/en/southern-gas-corridor
2013.
“Testimony of: Admiral James Stavridis, United States Navy Commander, United States European
Command Before the 113th Congress, 2013.”
House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
Accessed
December
3,
2022.
https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Stavridis%2003-19-13.pdf
The Odessa Journal. 2022.
Russia suspends the Black Sea Grain Initiative following the Ukrainian attack on its
warships in the port of Sevastopol.
October
30. Accessed
December
1,
2022.
https://odessa-journal.com/russia-suspends-the-black-sea-grain-initiative-following-the-ukrainian-attack-on-its-warships-in-the-port-of-sevastopol
2021.
"Treaty between The United States of America and the Russian Federation on security
guarantees."
Министерство иностранных дел Российской Федерации
.
December
17. Accessed
December
6,
2022.
https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/rso/nato/1790818/?lang=en
TRTWorld. 2022.
EU thanks Türkiye for upholding Black Sea Grain Initiative.
November
5. Accessed
December
1,
2022.
https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/eu-thanks-turkiye-for-upholding-black-sea-grain-initiative-12782579
2022.
Türkiye’s Black Sea gas field to go online next year: Erdoğan
reiterates.
November
13. Accessed
December
3,
2022.
https://www.dailysabah.com/business/energy/turkiyes-black-sea-gas-field-to-go-online-next-year-erdogan-reiterates
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. 2022.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative: What it is, and why it’s important for the
world.
September
23. Accessed
December
1,
2022.
https://unctad.org/news/black-sea-grain-initiativewhat-it-and-why-its-important-world
2016.
Warsaw Summit Communiqué Issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in
the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Warsaw 8-9 July 2016.
July
9. Accessed
December
4,
2022.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_133169.htm
YouTube. 2005.
Putin: “collapse of the Soviet Union was a major geopolitical disaster of the
century.” (Eng 2005).
April
25. Accessed
December
2,
2022.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTvswwU5Eco
YouTube. 2022.
The Rīga Conference, Day 2.
Riga,
October
22. Accessed
December
2,
2022.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgK9sA8Zc24&t=15274s
Zolyan, Mikael. 2022.
How the West Managed to Sideline Russia in Mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh
Conflict.
November
9. Accessed
December
5,
2022.
https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/88347