18
May 2017
Past Event
Emerging Tensions in the Black Sea and the Region’s Importance to the West

Emerging Tensions in the Black Sea and the Region’s Importance to the West

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
May 18, 2017
18
May 2017
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Seth Cropsey

President, Yorktown Institute

H.E. George Ciamba

Secretary of State for Euroatlantic, Bilateral, and Strategic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania

Ben-Oni Ardelean

Vice President, Foreign Affairs Commission, Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of Romania and Member, Romanian Delegation, NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Laurențiu Pachiu

Member of the Advisory Board, Energy Policy Group and Managing Partner & Founder, Pachiu & Associates

The Black Sea has historically been a meeting place of imperial ambitions and lucrative trade. For most of recorded history, the Black Sea has been a strategic hinge and remains so today. Russia has annexed Crimea and supports an ongoing insurgency in Ukraine’s southeast—where fighting continues between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed forces. Moscow provides military and political assistance to the breakaway regions of Transnistria in Moldova and Abkhazia in Georgia. Russia is increasing the size of its Black Sea Fleet and Russian aircraft continue to harass American naval vessels in the Black Sea as part of concerted efforts to pressure NATO from the Baltics to the Mediterranean.

Three NATO countries—Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey—have Black Sea coastlines, and face the prospect of Russia’s expanding military presence. Across Central and East Europe, NATO has responded to Russia with measures designed to reinforce alliance coordination. In both Bulgaria and Romania, the alliance has set up local NATO commands. Romania is home to part of a NATO missile shield, Bulgaria has RAF fighters stationed there, and both countries will host U.S. troop rotations in 2017.

On May 18, Hudson Institute, in cooperation with the Romanian research institute New Strategy Center, held a conference on Black Sea regional issues and their importance to both NATO and U.S. security. An expert panel discussed challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. and its allies in this volatile environment.

View Mr. Pachiu's Slides

View Dr. Ionita's Slides

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