Minister Georg Georgiev: Investing in the Security of the Black Sea Region is an Invest-ment in the Security of the Euro-Atlantic Area
12 April 2025 News
"Investing in the security of the Black Sea region is an investment in the security of the Euro-Atlantic area. In this complex environment, closer coordination and cooperation between NATO and the EU – the region’s natural partners – is more necessary than ever”. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georg Georgiev, during his participation in the fourth edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held from April 11 to 13, 2025 under the theme "Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World". Minister Georgiev spoke on a panel dedicated to security in the Black Sea region, alongside Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emil Hurezeanu, and Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zeki Levent Gümrükçü.
The Bulgarian Foreign Minister emphasized that amid growing geopolitical rivalries and pressure on the rules-based international order, only a firm commitment to the principles of multilateralism and the UN Charter can provide a sustainable framework for peace and security.
He highlighted the strategic importance of the Black Sea region for Europe, describing it as a crossroads critical to the continent’s security, economy, infrastructure and energy connectivity, and he noted that the deterioration of security in the region has a direct and multifaceted negative impact not only for regional but also on global stability.
Minister Georgiev recalled Bulgaria's active role in working together with Romania and other EU countries, in developing a new, comprehensive, and strategic vision for the Black Sea region. "We need a comprehensive and multi-layered EU strategy for the Black Sea region – one that reflects the current situation while also offering a vision for the future. This will strengthen the resilience of the EU and our partners, unlock cooperation potential and improve connectivity in all its dimensions," he stated.
Georg Georgiev also underscored the need for a stronger NATO presence in the Black Sea, including through the operational implementation of the Alliance's Strategic Concept and enhanced deterrence capabilities on the Eastern Flank.
In conclusion, Minister Georgiev expressed hope for the early achievement of a ceasefire in the Black Sea region as "a first step toward a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the UN Charter and international law" and affirmed Bulgaria’s readiness to contribute to the peace process alongside its allies and partners.