The USA Adopts the Law on Black Sea Security

The United States is on the verge of adopting the long-awaited in political and expert circles Black Sea Security Act of 2023.

The United States is on the verge of adopting the long-awaited in political and expert circles Black Sea Security Act of 2023 . It is obvious that the consideration of this document by the US Congress demonstrates a radical change in the attitude of the most powerful country in the world towards our region and its maritime security, and is also capable of positively influencing the strengthening of Ukraine’s national security.

In fact, the bill is an addition to another draft of the document – the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which determines US national defense spending in the 2024 fiscal year.

The Black Sea Security Act project was submitted by Senators Jean Shaheen (Democrat) and Mitt Romney (Republican), which also shows bipartisan support for US involvement in strengthening the security of the Black Sea region. According to a report on the website of the US Congress the NDAA bill has already passed both chambers. (//www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670/actions). Now it is up to the US President to sign it.

In the bill on Black Sea security, the US Congress reached, among other things, the following conclusions, which are very important for Ukraine:

• it is in the interests 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 Black Sea states are crucial to countering aggression by the government of the Russian Federation and contributing to NATO’s collective security;
• repeated, illegal, unprovoked and violent attempts by the Russian Federation to expand its territory and control access to the Mediterranean through the Black Sea pose a threat to the national security of the United States and NATO;
• in the interest of the United States to maintain and strengthen economic ties between the United States and the Black Sea States. 

The draft law on Black Sea security contains a number of tasks that the US sets before itself, as well as views on the issues of ensuring the security of the Black Sea region, including:

1. The US will discuss with NATO and the Alliance partners the issue of a regular presence in the Black Sea on a rotational basis (meaning, first of all, a military presence).
2. There are mutually beneficial opportunities for increased investment and economic expansion, particularly in energy and transportation infrastructure, between the United States and the states of the broader Black Sea region.
3. The directions of US public policy include supporting and strengthening economic ties between the United States and Black Sea partners by strengthening the American presence and increasing American investments in the Black Sea states.
4. The direction of US state policy also includes the provision of economic alternatives to “coercive economic options from the PRC”, which destabilize and further undermine the economic integration of the Black Sea states.
5. The United States has a responsibility to find solutions to the food security issues arising from the blockade of Ukrainian seaports, as this global issue will have critical implications for the national security of the United States, its partners and allies.
6. Not later than 180 days after the effective date of the Black Sea Security Act, the US National Security Council, together with the Department of State, the Department of Defense and other relevant federal departments and agencies, are required to prepare an interagency Black Sea Security and Development Strategy with a classified appendix.
7. The Black Sea Security and Development Strategy will be directed, in particular, to:

• providing effective and efficient assistance to regional security partners in accordance with the values and interests of the United States, providing priority assistance that will strengthen defenses and improve interoperability with NATO forces;
• strengthening the support of the United States for the energy security of the region, integration with Europe and reducing the dependence of regional partners on Russia, while simultaneously supporting the diversification of energy resources;
• easing economic pressure from the Russian Federation and the PRC on the Black Sea countries and identifying new opportunities for foreign direct investment from the United States and partner countries, as well as strengthening US business ties with regional partners in accordance with the values and interests of the United States, etc.;

        8. The US will also consider placing an interstate military headquarters in the Black Sea region, which will be responsible for planning, combat readiness, conducting exercises and coordinating military activities in the wider Black Sea region;

        9. no later than 360 days after the date of entry into force of the Black Sea Security Act, the US Government must identify the necessary programs, policies or budgetary resources necessary to implement the Black Sea Security and Development Strategy for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 fiscal years.

Certainly, it is extremely important that the bill pays special attention to the aggression of the Russian Federation, the need to increase security assistance to regional partners, economic issues, energy independence, the blockade of Ukrainian ports, as well as the clearly stated desire of the United States to invest in the security of the Black Sea region, which once again emphasizes the fact that the strategic course to strengthen relations between the superpower and the countries of the region.

In turn, it will depend on the Ukrainian authorities what volume of additional aid and foreign investments Ukraine will be able to attract on the basis of the US Black Sea Security Act.

Author: Bogdan Ustimenko, PhD, associate expert of the Center for Global Studies “Strategy XXI”

Source: geostrategy.org.ua