Romania, Bulgaria, Greece sign deal to boost military mobility

Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece have signed an agreement aimed at facilitating rapid cross-border movement of troops and weaponry to NATO's eastern flank, announced Romania's defence ministry on July 11.

The initiative comes amid heightened urgency within NATO and the European Union following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, emphasizing the need to expedite readiness efforts, including swift troop reinforcement capabilities in the event of potential conflicts with Moscow, Caliber.Az reports referring to foreign media.

NATO has expressed concerns over bureaucratic hurdles impeding troop movements across Europe.

The newly established military mobility corridor between these three NATO and EU member states, agreed upon during the NATO summit in Washington, seeks to streamline transport routes for military needs. This includes establishing road and rail supply lines to enhance efficiency during emergencies, while reducing administrative complexities during peacetime, as stated by the Romanian ministry.

Additionally, the agreement enables the integration of ports in the Aegean and Black Seas for joint strategic use. Notably, Romania and Bulgaria are already collaborating with Turkey on clearing stray mines in the Black Sea.

Further bolstering regional defense cooperation, the defense ministers of Romania and Bulgaria also signed a memorandum establishing a specialized operations command center. This centre will coordinate and oversee NATO's special operations forces activities within the Black Sea region, enhancing operational effectiveness and security in this strategically vital area.