Nato And The Russıan Federatıon’s New Battleground: The Geopolıtıcs Of The Black Sea

This book examines the geopolitical crises that have become one of the main variables of international politics inrecent years through the lens of the Black Sea. In the 20th century, geopolitics—the password to worlddomination—triggered two great world wars, and in the 21st century, it has reinforced its relevance throughvarious regional conflicts. In fact, today’s conflict dynamics represent not merely competition among regionalpowers but also a broader struggle between global and regional actors.Developed from Ebru Kain’s master’s thesis, this work analyzes the geopolitical power transitions of the 21stcentury through the unique geographical and political significance of the Black Sea. In her analysis, Kain examinesthe long-standing balance-of-power rivalry between the United States, NATO, and the Russian Federation, focusingon the Black Sea policies of the United States and Russia. Undoubtedly, the most significant event that has broughtthis power rivalry to its peak is the Russia–Ukraine war, which began in 2022 and continues at the time of thisbook’s publication.The Russia–Ukraine war has not only turned the Black Sea into a center of geopolitical confrontation but has alsostructurally reshaped Euro-Atlantic security relations. As the search for a new equilibrium continues, the globalbalance of power will persist in testing itself through Black Sea–centered challenges.I believe that Kain’s study will serve as a key reference for research focused on the Black Sea at a time when theglobal balance of power and international rivalry have reached their zenith. I hope that scholarly efforts in this fieldwill continue to grow and multiply.Assoc. Prof. Dr. Uğur Yasin ASAL