The turbulent waters of the Black Sea
Bordered by Ukraine, Russia and three NATO countries, but sometimes overlooked in the war, the Black Sea has become an increasingly dangerous cauldron of military and geopolitical tensions since Moscow’s decision last month to end a deal ensuring the safe passage of Ukrainian grain.
Now, Russian warships patrol its surface, launching missiles at Ukrainian towns while creating a de facto blockade, threatening any vessel that might try to breach it. Ukrainian sea drones carry explosives stealthily toward Russian ports and vessels. In the airspace above, NATO and allied surveillance planes and drones fly over international waters.
The battle for control of the sea could have implications for global energy markets and world food supplies. And it will almost certainly raise new challenges for NATO as it seeks to uphold a central tenet of international law — free navigation of the sea — without drawing the alliance directly into conflict with Russian forces.
Background: After withdrawing from the grain deal, Russia pulverized Ukrainian Black Sea ports to stymie grain shipments key to Ukraine’s economy. It even struck sites on the Danube River a few hundred yards from Romania, which is a NATO member. Ukraine retaliated with two strikes on Russian ships on consecutive days.
In other news from the war:
-
Two strikes in Ukraine, just 37 minutes apart, killed at least nine people, including a responder to the first attack.
-
Beijing’s foreign minister spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart after China attended peace talks in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.
More extreme weather lashes Europe
At least six people died in flooding in Slovenia. Wildfires burned in Cyprus, Greece and Portugal. And heavy rains were recorded in Sweden and Norway. Together, the instances were yet more examples of the extreme weather that has become increasingly common in Europe in the past few years.
The most recent events have destroyed large amounts of land, left dozens of people injured, forced thousands to evacuate and, in some cases, caused deaths. They come on the heels of scorching temperatures that have engulfed much of Southern Europe this summer.
Other environmental news: The leaders of eight countries that are home to the Amazon River basin agreed to work together to conserve the world’s largest rainforest at a meeting convened by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil.
Hopes for dialogue dim in Niger
Niger’s new military leaders have rebuffed diplomatic efforts by the U.S., the U.N. and regional groups to resolve the crisis created by the recent coup. Hopes for the restoration of civilian rule there are fading. And the democratically elected president — who has not yet formally resigned — is reportedly locked in his residence without electricity or water.
What’s next: The Economic Community of West African States, a regional bloc, has threatened military action and frozen financial transactions with Niger. It is scheduled to hold a summit tomorrow.
THE LATEST NEWS
Around the World
ARTS AND IDEAS
May-December friendship
Roslyn Scharf is an 83-year-old fitness devotee. Omid Malekan is her 42-year-old personal trainer. Both are avid readers and devoted Mets fans who chat over wins and losses. And now, since joining her book club, he is the only middle-aged man among “a dozen octogenarian women who love him,” she said.
This kind of exchange of perspectives and life experiences is a hallmark of cross-generational friendship — a potential antidote to the social isolation experienced by some older people.