Black Sea Security: The Role of Naval Bases in the Regional Architecture

As Russia’s war against Ukraine redefines global geopolitics, the Black Sea has emerged as a key arena for both security and economic stability. Naval bases in the region — from Sevastopol to Constanța — are no longer mere logistical hubs but strategic levers shaping Europe’s resilience. The future of the EU’s energy and food supply chains, as well as the balance of power in Eastern Europe, now depends on who controls these critical maritime assets.

Naval Bases Can Serve as a Deterrent to Aggression

The Black Sea is an enclosed body of water where any imbalance in the deployment of fleets immediately alters the regional security landscape. Russia’s base in Sevastopol has been a key tool for the Kremlin’s power projection onto the South Caucasus, the Balkans, and the Middle East for decades. It was from there that Moscow launched missiles at Ukraine and supported operations in Syria. This example clearly demonstrates that control over naval bases turns them into “launch platforms” for broader geopolitical ambitions.

At the same time, the presence of NATO bases in Romania (Constanța) and Turkey (Izmir, Samsun) creates a balance of deterrence. Romania has deployed elements of the U.S. missile defense system and is strengthening the port of Constanța as a key hub for delivering cargo to Ukraine. Turkey, leveraging its control over the straits, combines the role of a “gatekeeper” and a deterrent, making its naval facilities a component of the global defense architecture.

International Practice Underscores the Experience of Naval Bases in Major Wars

History proves that control over naval bases has always determined the course of major conflicts. During World War II, it was the Allied bases at Scapa Flow and Portsmouth that enabled Britain to counter the German navy and control the Atlantic. The U.S. victory in the Pacific theater was impossible without a network of bases – from Pearl Harbor to Okinawa – that allowed power projection across thousands of kilometers. During the Cold War, the Soviet base in Sevastopol and U.S. bases in Naples and Izmir became symbols of global confrontation, while the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 demonstrated how the deployment of the Soviet fleet in Cuba could shift the strategic balance of the entire world.

These examples confirm that naval bases have never been merely logistical facilities. They are strategic tools that enable superiority in war, control over maritime communications, and influence over geopolitical decisions. Thus, today in the Black Sea, it is the bases that determine who controls the regional balance of power and, consequently, the future of European security.

The Security of Maritime Routes and the Economic Stability of the EU Depend on the Location of Bases

For the European Union, the Black Sea issue is primarily about the security of supply chains. Millions of tons of Ukrainian grain pass through the ports of Odesa, Constanța, and Varna, determining food security in the Middle East and Africa and, consequently, preventing new migration crises in Europe. The same applies to oil and gas transported through Turkey and Bulgaria.

Any attack on maritime routes immediately undermines confidence in European markets. When Russia blocked Ukrainian ports in 2022–2023, global grain prices surged by 30–40%. Only the restoration of exports through the “grain corridor” and alternative routes via the Danube stabilized the situation. Therefore, secure ports and protected naval bases are not only a matter of defense but also the foundation of macro-financial stability for the EU.

New Challenges Threaten Maritime Military Logistics: Drones, Mines, and Hybrid Attacks

Traditional naval warfare is transforming before our eyes. Ukraine has proven that even without a powerful navy, it is possible to neutralize Russian ships using sea drones and precision missiles. Meanwhile, Moscow actively employs mine-laying and hybrid methods – attacks on port energy infrastructure, cyberattacks on logistics, and provocations in airspace.

In this situation, naval bases must fulfill not only their traditional roles – housing ships and ensuring logistics – but also serve as centers for multi-domain defense: with integrated air defense systems, cybersecurity, and underwater activity monitoring. This is precisely how NATO is transforming Romania’s Constanța into one of the most critical security hubs in the region.

The Ukrainian Factor Is Gaining Strength in the Black Sea Architecture

Even amid war, Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to shift the balance of power in the Black Sea. The destruction of the flagship Moskva, attacks on Russian ships in Sevastopol, and the establishment of the “grain corridor” are proof that Ukraine’s future navy does not necessarily need to be symmetrical to Russia’s. Its task is to integrate into the broader Black Sea security system alongside its partners.

The establishment of new naval bases in the western part of the Black Sea with Ukrainian participation could guarantee that Russia will never again dictate terms in the region. This is not only a matter of Ukraine’s security but of all of Europe.

Naval bases are not just infrastructure facilities; they are the pillars of the global security architecture. In the Black Sea, they determine who controls energy and food flows and, consequently, the political and economic stability of the European Union. Russian aggression has only underscored that without a strong NATO and Ukrainian presence in the region, Europe will remain vulnerable. Therefore, strengthening the Black Sea security architecture must become one of the top priorities of Western strategy in the coming years.

Bohdan Popov, Head of Digital at the United Ukraine Think Tank, communications specialist and public figure