Turkey Stalls NATO, Clings to Defunct Status Quo in the Black Sea

Source:Jamestown Foundation Date:03Aug2018

Russia is rapidly accumulating superior power in the Black Sea, and posturing offensively in and around the region. Nevertheless, whenever the matter comes up for debate within the North Atlantic Alliance, Turkey maintains that the Black Sea basin is a secure region with a stable equilibrium of power. With that argument, Turkey resists proposals for NATO measures to counterbalance Russia’s increasingly threatening power in and around the Black Sea. By the same token, Turkey has opposed the proposals to draw up distinct documents on Black Sea strategy at Alliance summits, including at the Brussels Summit, just held.