2023 Black Sea Security Act submitted to US Senate
2023 Black Sea Security Act submitted to US Senate

The 2023 Black Sea Security Act has been submitted to the US Senate. The bill, co-sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Mitt Romney, and Ben Cardin, envisages increasing US support to strengthen the security of the Black Sea region’s countries, including Georgia.

The document reads: “It is in the interest of the United States to support efforts to prevent the spread of further armed conflict in Europe by recognizing the Black Sea region as an arena of Russian aggression.”

The Act says that the United States should continue to work within NATO and with NATO Allies “to develop a long-term strategy to enhance security, establish a permanent, sustainable presence along NATO’s eastern flank, and bolster the democratic resilience of its allies and partners in the region.”

According to the Security Act, the United States should work within NATO and with NATO Allies to develop a regular, rotational maritime presence in the Black Sea. Also, the United States should work with the European Union on coordinating a strategy to support democratic initiatives and economic prosperity in the region, which includes two European Union members and four European Union aspirant nations.

The 2023 Black Sea Security Act is read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations for revision.