The Istanbul Strait Command plays a key role in Türkiye’s maritime security, overseeing mine countermeasures (MCM), patrol operations, and the enforcement of the Montreux Convention. Amid heightened vigilance due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the command has conducted over 24,000 hours of navigation and 5,000 flight hours to clear drifting mines in the Black Sea.
Türkiye also leads the multinational “MCM BLACK SEA” task group, which was launched in July 2024 with coastal allies. After three operational periods, command was transferred to Bulgaria in January 2025. Meanwhile, NATO’s CTF BLACK Task Force is being formed in Istanbul, with Türkiye, Bulgaria, and Romania participating.
