The Security of the Black Sea Region in the Current Geopolitical Context of Georgia

Abstract

The Black Sea forms a sort of natural bridge between Europe and Central Asia and the Middle East. From a security perspective, the Black Sea has always been of strategic importance. It is a major geopolitical and economic crossroads.
The Black Sea region has acquired significant importance over the decades, particularly following the Russian Federation’s occupation of the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and the subsequent full – scale military campaign in Ukraine in 2022, which the Russian side designated as a special military operation.
The article’s objective is to analyse the effectiveness of security mechanisms in the Black Sea region. To this end, the theories of „securitization” and „balance of power” were utilised and desk research and analysis methods were employed as research tools. A comprehensive analysis of relevant Georgian and foreign – language scientific literature, along with other documents pertaining to Black Sea security policy, was conducted. This analysis informed the formulation of two research questions:
what factors determine the security of the Black Sea region ?
what are the factors that determine Georgia’s security policy in the context of Black Sea security ?
The research revealed that the Black Sea issue is relevant in the Georgian political space and that active attention is paid to the ongoing events in the region. Furthermore, it is imperative to acknowledge the geostrategic significance of the region. The research indicates a direct correlation between the international interest in the Black Sea and the significance of events in the Black Sea for Georgia’s security.