US Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) on Monday introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at stimulating a more proactive role for the United States in the Black Sea region and establishing a formal US strategy that will strengthen security and trade there encourages.
“This law creates a roadmap for the US and our allies to strengthen economic ties, confront our adversaries and defend democracy abroad,” said Rep. Turner, vice president of NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly and co-chair of House Romania caucuses.
The congressman signed into law Dec. 13 as the lead original co-sponsor of the Black Sea Security Act of 2022, HR 9511, which is sponsored by US Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) and would ensure security in the Black Sea region.
Ukraine, Romania, Georgia, Bulgaria and Turkey are strategic partners in the Black Sea region and are vital to US security interests, Rep. Turner said.
“The US and our allies must maintain a strong presence in the Black Sea region to sustain and expand energy imports, digital infrastructure and economic development,” Rep. Turner said. “Our goal is to deter vicious attempts by Russia and China to control the region – a move that would jeopardize our security interests abroad.”
The region also has economic importance as a transportation hub for myriad commodities, including grain exports from Ukraine and energy products from the Caspian Sea, the information said.
“The State and Defense Departments have worked for years to develop a US strategy on how best to strengthen security and stability in the region,” Rep. Keating said. “This legislation formalizes those efforts and provides our partners in the region with greater certainty for the future.”
In particular, HR 9511 requires according to a billing summary of the legislature.
In addition, 180 days after the passage of HR 9511, a multi-agency strategy would be needed to increase military support and coordination with NATO and the EU, deepen economic ties, strengthen democracy and economic security, and provide security support to the Black Sea countries to improve, says the summary .
HR 9511 is the companion bill to S. 4509 of the same name, introduced July 12 by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Roger Wicker (R -MS).
