Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

What are the rules for flying across the Black Sea?

What are the rules for flying across the Black Sea?

News of the crash reverberated around the world: two Russian fighter jets reportedly dumped fuel on a US drone earlier this week before hitting and downing it.

Moscow has denied it. Washington dubbed it an "unprofessional" interception. And it has sparked a ratcheting up of confrontational rhetoric between Russia and the US.

But why was the encounter "unprofessional” and what are the rules for flying over the region? Euronews asked the experts.


Flying drones over international waters


The Black Sea – which borders Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Romania and Bulgaria – is a major theatre in the war in Ukraine.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Moscow has used its navy fleet in the Sea to fire missiles at Ukrainian cities and to target the country's energy infrastructure.

And Ukrainian forces have also targeted Russian infrastructure and its navy in the region – famously sinking Moscow’s flagship vessel, the Moskva, in April 2022.

Russian missile cruiser Moskva is on patrol in the Mediterranean Sea near the Syrian coast in 2015.


But, countries are still allowed to fly drones and other aircraft over parts of the Black Sea, although not all of it.

Benjamyn Scott, an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Air and Space Law at Leiden University, told Euronews that the Black Sea is divided into sections: the territorial waters that belong to its bordering countries and its international waters.

According to Article 87 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas, international waters, and their airspace, are open to all countries.

While Turkey closed the Bosphorus Strait – a strip of water connecting the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea - to non-regional warships in 2022, the Black Sea remained, effectively, open, meaning the US could still access the area’s international airspace through its allies.

“To enter these international waters, [nations] can also go through the territory of a state,” Scott said.

“It would need to get prior permission [from the countries], whether on an ad-hoc basis or through pre-existing arrangements in order to enter this international airspace around the Black Sea.”

A US MQ-9 drone is on display during an air show at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan in 2018.


Drones are a ‘common presence’


Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drones have “become a common presence in international airspace over the Black Sea,” according to James Patton Rogers, an Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science at the Danish Institute for Advanced Study.

“With the worry that Russia is a resurgent offensive power, there has been a broader increase in US and NATO drone border patrols across both the Baltic and Black Sea regions to keep a watchful eye on Russian movements.”

Encounters are not unusual between Russia and NATO aircraft. Prior to 2022, NATO and Russian planes were reportedly involved in an average of 400 interceptions every year, according to AP.

A NATO drone is parked in front of the national stadium in Warsaw in 2016.


But what makes Tuesday's interception unique is the accusation from the US that it was “intentional” and "aggressive."

“We know that the intercept was intentional. We know that the aggressive behaviour was intentional,” US General Mark Milley said after the drone crashed on 14 March.

And according to Scott, there are standard ways to intercept foreign aircraft, such as "not flying in a dangerous manner."

Rogers also pointed to the cost of the drone as a reason why the encounter was "an escalation".

“A [Reaper surveillance drone] can cost as much as $30 million [€28 million], and the downing of a US military asset is certainly an escalation,” he said.

“The US’ response will likely include increased drone patrols across the region, not a decrease [in presence].”

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
EU Majority Demands Hungary Reverse Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws
Top Hotel Picks for 2025 Stays in Budapest Revealed
Iron Maiden Unveils 2025 Tour Setlist in Budapest
Chinese Film Week Opens in Budapest to Promote Cultural Exchange
Budapest Airport Launches Direct Flights to Shymkent
Von der Leyen Denies Urging EU Officials to Skip Budapest Pride
Alcaraz and Sinner Advance with Convincing Wins at Roland Garros
EU Ministers Lack Consensus on Sanctioning Hungary Over Rule of Law
EU Nations Urge Action Against Hungary's Pride Parade Ban
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
U.S. Considers Withdrawing Troops from Europe
Russia Deploys Motorbike Squads in Ukraine Conflict
Critics Accuse European Court of Human Rights of Overreach
Spain Proposes 100% Tax on Non-EU Holiday Home Purchases
German Intelligence Labels AfD as Far-Right Extremist
Geert Wilders Threatens Dutch Coalition Over Migration Policy
Hungary Faces Multiple Challenges Amid EU Tensions and Political Shifts
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Any trade deal with US must be based on respect not threats', says EU commissioner
UK Leads in Remote Work Adoption, Averaging 1.8 Days a Week
×