Security Cooperation in the Wider Black Sea Region

This report analyses the evolving patterns of security cooperation in the wider Black Sea region in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It argues that the region’s growing strategic importance for both NATO and the EU has not yet translated into coherent institutional or operational cooperation. Divergent national threat perceptions, uneven defence capacities, and differing relationships with Western institutions continue to fragment the regional security landscape. The study compares the strategic postures of the main littoral and partner states and identifies key obstacles to coordinated action, including the persistence of Russia’s veto power and the absence of a shared long-term vision. To address these challenges, the report proposes concrete measures: fostering joint defence production, enhancing regional mobility and connectivity, adapting multilateral frameworks, and integrating Türkiye more closely with EU defence efforts to transform the Black Sea from a vulnerable frontier into a consolidated security space.