Navigating Narratives: Digital Diplomacy and Freedom of Navigation in the Black Sea
Journal: Lex Portus
Year: 2026

The Black Sea case during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict shows that digital diplomacy is increasingly vital for maintaining freedom of navigation amidst traditional and hybrid conflicts. Although freedom of navigation is firmly rooted in the law of the sea, its practical enforcement increasingly relies on narrative authority, transparency, and quick international cooperation. The article argues that digital diplomacy serves as a supplementary layer to traditional mechanisms for protecting merchant