Abstract:
This paper analyses the strategic visions of the European Union and the United States of America concerning the Black Sea region, with a focus on recent policy frameworks such as the European Commission's Strategic Approach to the Black Sea (2025) and the U.S. legislation Black Sea Security Act (2023). It highlights the tension between perceiving the Black Sea as a strategic frontier versus a vital transport corridor, while emphasizing the crucial role played by regional actors (Romania, Bulgaria, Türkiye and Ukraine). The analysis further explores the importance of offshore energy resources, maritime security, and countering hybrid warfare in shaping the policies of both the EU and the U.S. The Black Sea emerges as a pivotal geopolitical node in the broader competition between the West and the Russian Federation, though significant strategic uncertainties remain.