The Black Sea Region as a New Geopolitical Reality in the Materials of Western and Turkish Analytical Centers (2014–2023)

In the last few years, attention of world think tanks to the development of the Black Sea region has increased significantly, which is mirrored in the materials of the American, European, and Turkish expert and analytical communities. The authors of the research aim to identify and explore the main approaches to the formation of various geopolitical configurations of the Black Sea region in the discourse of Western and Turkish think tanks, as well as the policies of the powers. The methodological basis of the study comprises the systemic, geopolitical, and discursive approaches. The methods of discourse analysis are used to interpret the materials of foreign analytical centers devoted to the study of the problems in the region. The analysis of expert and analytical reports revealed the key recommendations of foreign think tanks that can be considered as possible further steps by the United States and its allies in the Black Sea region: (1) strengthening the military presence of the United States and NATO in the region; (2) building effective communication with Turkey in order to dilute the existing regime of the Black Sea Straits; (3) achieving active cooperation of the Black Sea states with Washington, Brussels, Berlin, London, and Paris in order to draw attention to the Black Sea region and its strategic importance; (4) strengthening the position of the West in the Black Sea region by influencing minds and hearts of the population through the dissemination of universal values; and (5) expulsion of Russia from the Black Sea region through the reduction of the Russian naval presence in the Black Sea.