The Center of Attention: Black Sea Region

Black Sea is surrounded by Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia. It is an inland sea and it is very important for the surrounding countries, in terms of fishing and energy. According to geologists, the Black Sea has a large reserve of oil and natural gas. It was only 2 months ago that Turkish geologists discovered oil reserves close to the Turkish Coast. According to the Turkish Daily News, Black Sea Oil reserves will be enough for Turkey. Russia and Ukraine has a lot of offshore gas fields in the Black Sea. Black Sea connects Russia to the Mediterranean Sea through the Turkish Straits.

Middle East used to be the center of attention but I think the Black Sea is gaining more importance. During the Cold War times, Russia didn't need to worry about much about the Black Sea Region. Bulgaria and Romania were members of the Warsaw Pact and Ukraine, Georgia were the Republics of the Soviet Union. Ukraine and Georgia gained their independence after the collapse of the USSR. The Warsaw Pact dissolved in 1991, Romania and Bulgaria started transformations to westernize and Romania and Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004. Soon Ukraine and Georgia will become NATO members too. I believe the war in Georgia fastened this process. Maybe it was the strategy of the Western Powers; to make Georgia attack on South Ossetia, then wait for Russia to react so the Western Powers can send aid to Georgia and accept Georgia to NATO.

The U.S. sent some ships to Georgia which carries humanitarian aid. The question in my mind is what kind of humanitarian aid an Arleigh Burke class destroyer can carry? I don't believe Tomahawk, SM2 or Harpoon missiles can heal the wounds of the injured Georgian people. Montreux Convention was signed in 1936 which gave the control of Bosporus and Dardanelles to Turkey. This agreement restricted the passage of military ships (except Turkish ones) from the Straits. Unfortunately U.S. government didn't sign this agreement. The Turkish government let the American ships pass from the Straits this week and this increased tension between Russia and Turkey. Since the Russian ships cannot pass freely from the Straits, the Russian government is criticizing the Turkish government because they let the American ships pass. The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov couldn't pass from the Straits in 2000 because the Turkish Government didn't give permission.

It is clear that Russia is losing the control in the Black Sea Region and also in the East Europe. The U.S. government knows that gaining access to the Black Sea will give them a lot of advantages. U.S. built a base in Kosovo after the war and it is a big possibility they will be building a base in Georgia too. The presence of a U.S. base that much close to Russia will make the Russian government uncomfortable. I believe Russian government will do everything to gain the control of the Black Sea and East Europe Region again and we will witness a diplomatic war in the following weeks.