In March 2004, Turkey proposed a new security initiative, Black Sea Harmony, as a move to improve communication and shadow suspicious ships, and has recently invited other littoral states, including Russia and Ukraine, to participate in the operation.
"The ships will represent Russia's presence in the regions of sea traffic in the Black Sea, monitor the area, exchange information with Russian federal authorities and Turkey's Navy on the movement of vessels, including suspicious ones," the Navy said in a news release.
Some countries consider Black Sea Harmony an attempt to maintain Turkey's dominance in the area by preventing NATO from extending its Operation Active Endeavor, which has similar objectives in the Mediterranean, into the Black Sea.
