The significance of the Black Sea in reinforcing Russia's position as a powerful maritime state

Abstract

  The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in a new order within the international system. The shift from a bipolar to a unipolar world led to the complete dominance of the United States. The Russian political elite struggled to accept this new environment characterized by U.S. hegemony. It continuously sought to establish a multipolar world, which it believed would restore Russia's status as a significant power. In Russia's view, a multipolar world would challenge America's unchallenged dominance and provide Moscow with an opportunity to regain the influence it held during the Soviet era. The Kremlin believed it could only secure this status by maintaining its influence in its so-called neighborhood, referring to the post-Soviet space. As a result, throughout the Cold War, Russia's relations with Washington and its Western strategic partners were marked by both partnership and competition. Russia collaborated with the West on issues that did not pertain to the post-Soviet space. However, Russian policy became uncompromising and confrontational whenever interests clashed in that region. This competition was most clearly illustrated in the context of the Black Sea and the surrounding region. During the Cold War, the Kremlin enjoyed a relatively stable influence in the Black Sea region. At that time, Russia's only significant rival was NATO member Turkey, and the Montreux Convention governed their maritime relations. The other countries bordering the Black Sea were either part of the Soviet Union or aligned with the socialist camp. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the landscape changed to Russia's disadvantage, resulting in the emergence of six states in the region: Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, and Ukraine. In 2004, Bulgaria and Romania joined NATO, while Georgia and Ukraine expressed aspirations for membership. This shift represented a significant decline in Russia's status as a strong state and regional power. In response, the Kremlin began striving to reclaim its status as a strong state by pursuing a policy of becoming a mighty maritime nation. For Putin, land power was deemed unattainable without control of the sea. This article explores the significance of elevating Russia's status as a maritime state within its foreign policy. It examines its impact on the balance of power in the Black Sea, focusing on the pre-war situation of 2022 as the research period.