Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed that Russia would soon revive the Black Sea grain deal during his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi. This crucial agreement, signed in July 2022, ensured the safe passage of ships carrying grain from Ukraine. However, in July 2023, Russia declined to extend the deal, leading to concerns about food security in various regions, including Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Background
- Ukraine’s Role: Ukraine, a major exporter of food grains like wheat and corn, is vital to the UN’s food aid programs. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent blockade of its ports drove up food prices globally and raised fears of food shortages in vulnerable nations.
- The Black Sea Initiative: In July 2022, Russia and Ukraine signed the Black Sea grain deal, also known as the Black Sea Initiative. This agreement allowed cargo ships to travel between three Ukrainian Black Sea ports—Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi (Yuzhny)—as long as they underwent inspections to ensure they were not carrying arms. The designated safe passage in the Black Sea was 310 nautical miles long and three nautical miles wide. A control center in Istanbul, staffed by U.N., Turkish, Russian, and Ukrainian officials, managed and coordinated the process.
Significance of the Deal
The Black Sea grain deal provided relief to financially struggling developing countries and helped prevent famine. The United Nations warned that the war’s ripple effects could increase the number of people facing severe food insecurity by 47 million. Additionally, it stabilized global food prices, which were already at record levels before the conflict. Ukraine’s position as a major exporter of wheat, corn, and sunflower oil made the deal crucial.
Russia’s Refusal to Renew
- Unmet Promises: Russia cited unmet promises as the reason for refusing to renew the agreement. It claimed that various barriers, including payment platform restrictions, insurance issues, shipping problems, and logistics challenges, hindered its agricultural exports.
- Global Food Security: Russia initially agreed to the grain deal to support global food security. However, it argued that Ukraine mainly exported to high- and middle-income countries, raising questions about the deal’s impact on global food access.
Developments since the Deal’s End
- Conflict Escalation: Since the deal’s expiration, Russia has intensified its attacks on the Odesa region, Ukraine’s primary Black Sea port.
- New Export Plans: Russia is exploring grain exports to several African nations, including Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea, with a potential supply of up to 50,000 tonnes of grain.
- UN and Turkey’s Intervention: Against this backdrop, the United Nations and Turkey have successfully engaged Russia in discussions about the Black Sea Grain Initiative, aiming to address the complexities of this vital agreement.
UPSC Mains Questions
- How does the Black Sea grain deal impact global food security, and what are its implications for vulnerable nations?
- What factors led to Russia’s decision to refuse the renewal of the Black Sea grain deal, and how have these decisions affected its agricultural exports?
- How does the conflict in Ukraine, particularly around the Odesa region, relate to the Black Sea grain deal and global food security?
- What role do international organizations and diplomacy play in addressing the challenges and complexities surrounding this vital agreement?