<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Stephen Blank</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The Critical Black Sea Zone</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Connections: The Quarterly Journal</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Black Sea security</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">energy security</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">geopolitical tensions</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">military strategy</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">regional dynamics</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Russia-Ukraine war</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Russian aggression</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Western response</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2022</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Fall 2022</style></date></pub-dates></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">21</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">115-128</style></pages><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has brought to the forefront the complex interplay of military, energy, and food security dynamics in the Black Sea region. Russia’s strategic focus on dominating the Black Sea and its littoral areas is evident through weaponization of energy and food exports and its persistent efforts to assert control since Putin’s rise to power in 1999-2000. This aggression underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive Western strategy to address the security challenges of the Black Sea region.
    The article argues that the West must prioritize supporting Ukraine and enhancing Black Sea security through a multifaceted approach that encompasses military, political, and economic dimensions. Key missions include ensuring Ukrainian victory, providing energy security to Ukraine, and breaking the Russian blockade of the Black Sea to liberate vital energy and grain shipments. Additionally, efforts to engage with regional actors like Turkey and Azerbaijan are crucial to diversifying energy sources and reducing dependence on Russian resources. By recognizing the interconnectedness of security challenges in the Black Sea region and demonstrating a collective will to address them, the West can mitigate Russia’s influence, promote stability, and establish a more secure and prosperous future for the region.
</style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">4</style></issue><section><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">115</style></section></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Georgi Tsvetkov</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Maritime Defence Investment Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Information &amp; Security: An International Journal</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Black Sea security</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">defence policy</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">maritime sovereignty</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">naval capabilities</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">offset</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">rearmament</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">regional security</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2011</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2011</style></date></pub-dates></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">27</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">163-173</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Taking into consideration Bulgaria’s interests and intentions stipulated in the National Security Strategy, the Black Sea is seen as a main sphere of the country’s foreign, security and defence policies. So far, official documents do not seem to place a priority on modernising the Bulgarian Navy. The author, however, reasons that by 2020 Bulgaria should have small, but technologically advanced Navy, capable of defending the interests of Bulgaria and its Western allies in the Black Sea region. After examining available options and approximate costs, the paper suggests that the country embarks on a modernisation programme packaging the procurement of main platforms, thus getting negotiation leverage and seeking offsets through direct industrial investments. </style></abstract><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Peter Petrov</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Towards Creation of a Unified Information System of the Navies of the Black Sea Countries</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Information &amp; Security: An International Journal</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Black Sea security</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">BlackSeaFor</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">ComBlackSeaNavMet</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">cooperative security</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">GMDSS</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">South Eastern Europe</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2001</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2001</style></date></pub-dates></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">6</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">94-101</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The cooperation among the Navies of the Black Sea region has a significant, and as yet underutilized potential to deal with the new security challenges. In this article the Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Navy describes the non-traditional challenges in front of the Bulgarian Navy and other governmental agencies, and the role advanced IT may play in facilitating their effectiveness. Building on that experience, Vice-Admiral Petrov proposes a regional initiative in establishing a unified Black Sea information system. He analyzes functional, organizational and technological aspects of the project, defines priorities in its development and proposes initial implementation steps.</style></abstract></record></records></xml>