At a time when the Russia–Ukraine War continues to disrupt the balance in the Black Sea, Türkiye has taken another strategic step to preserve regional stability. During the weekly press briefing held by the Ministry of National Defense (MoND), technical details regarding the structure of the Maritime Component Command (MCC)—which will be led by Türkiye and established within the framework of the Ukrayna Gönüllüler Koalisyonu—were shared. Therefore, this eliminated public confusion over the concept.
Fundamental Principles in the Black Sea Security Architecture
Türkiye’s security strategy in the Black Sea is built on two main pillars: the Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits and the principle of regional ownership. The Ministry emphasized that these two elements are applied without compromise to maintain balance and stability in the region. It was stated that, through the implementation of the Montreux provisions during the Russia–Ukraine war, the spread of the conflict into the maritime domain has been prevented.
Ukraine Volunteer Coalition and the Maritime Component Command (MCC)
The Ukraine Volunteer Coalition, for which 33 countries have expressed interest in participation, is a multinational initiative with no affiliation to NATO. While the operational headquarters of the initiative is planned to be established in Paris, its maritime dimension will be conducted under Türkiye’s leadership.
Technical details of the Maritime Component Command (MCC):
Command and Personnel: The headquarters, established on 25 August 2025, consists entirely of Turkish personnel in its core staff.
Legal Basis: All planning activities in the maritime domain are based on the legal framework set out by the Montreux Convention.
Contributing Countries: Although 14 countries have declared their intent to contribute, only littoral states—Türkiye, Romania, and Bulgaria—will provide naval platforms (such as ships).
Multinational Headquarters Activities
The Ministry also announced that, in line with its Black Sea strategy, Türkiye has taken the initiative to establish both NATO and non-NATO multinational maritime headquarters. In addition, efforts to establish a Multinational Corps Headquarters in Adana are ongoing. It was noted that all these defense and security activities are being carried out in coordination with relevant authorities and in a transparent manner.
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Source: C4Defence-MoND
