The Black Sea: A Sea of Conflicts

The Black Sea and its shores have become choke points of hostilities, where Ukraine--largely without a fleet--has achieved superiority over the Russian naval forces. This is the theater of war where the situation appears more favorable than on land, where a noticeable stalemate persists. This dynamic affects military force ratios and the eventual outcome of the entire war, with spillover effects on freedom of navigation, as well as agricultural and energy trade. This article provides an overview of the special edition, offers background, and sets the stage for more specific and detailed articles in this volume, examining the situation in the Black Sea from various vantage points.