Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s October 2021 visit to Eastern Europe could not come at a better time. The economic, security, and political importance of the Black Sea and the broader region is becoming ever more important. The security of the Black Sea is important not only for NATO’s southern flank, but also for keeping the door open for future Georgian and Ukrainian NATO membership. With Russia using the Black Sea as a springboard for operations in Syria and Libya, and with continued Russian aggression against Ukraine and Georgia, the U.S. and the Alliance cannot afford to ignore the Black Sea region.
OP-ED
Group of authors: Time for action
Ukrainian Navy ship Balta patrols the Black Sea near the Odesa Sea Port on Dec. 13, 2018.
