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The Black Sea is the frontier between liberal democracy and autocracy. It matters to the West and the Kremlin. @general_ben explains how @NATO & the West can hold the line against anti-democratic forces, take the initiative, establish influence, and protect strategic interests.
Despite the region's importance, the U.S. and Western strategy in the Black Sea has been insufficient. Russia uses its new generation (or “hybrid”) warfare to force NATO into an asymmetric contest, thus avoiding many of the Alliance’s greatest strengths.
The United States, Europe, and regional partners and allies must use their diplomatic leverage:
Boycott ships sailing from Crimea
Expand/extend sanctions
Stabilize the relationship between 
Turkey and the West to ensure regional stability
Boycott ships sailing from Crimea Expand/extend sanctions Stabilize the relationship between Turkey and the West to ensure regional stability
The United States and Europe must do more to push back against the Kremlin's regional information operations by increasing support for free media and improving educational opportunities and programming.
NATO must take the security initiative:
Invite 
; Fast track 
membership
Make 
its "center of gravity"
Expand Sea Breeze exercises
365-day continuous non-littoral presence in the Black Sea
Establish a joint, three-star headquarters on the Black Sea
Invite ; Fast track membership Make its "center of gravity" Expand Sea Breeze exercises 365-day continuous non-littoral presence in the Black Sea Establish a joint, three-star headquarters on the Black Sea
The United States and Europe must provide greater economic support to the Black Sea Region:
Create a "Marshall Plan for the Black Sea"
@DFCgov investment roadshow around the region
@3seaseu prioritize North-South connections between Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas
Create a "Marshall Plan for the Black Sea" @DFCgov investment roadshow around the region @3seaseu prioritize North-South connections between Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas
A strategy that plays to our diplomatic information military & economic strengths will immediately begin to curb Kremlin mischief-making in the Black Sea and lay the foundation for pushback, enhancing credibility, cohesion, prosperity, and security. https://cepa.org/the-black-sea-or-a-black-hole/
