Turkey's Defense Minister Yasar Guler warned Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday against further attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. Ankara reserves the right to take legal action against strikes impacting Turkish-flagged or owned ships, marking its most direct intervention to date.
Turkey's warning to Russia and Ukraine escalates diplomatic pressure to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels in the Black Sea, a critical route for grain and energy exports.
Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler warned Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday against further attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, stating that Ankara reserves the right to take legal action against the strikes. NATO member Turkey has maintained good ties with both Moscow and Kyiv since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has repeatedly called on both sides to halt attacks in the Black Sea. Guler spoke in Sofia after a security meeting between defense ministers and military chiefs of Black Sea littoral states Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria. He noted that commercial vessels have been affected by drone attacks, stray mines, and missiles during the conflict. A Greek container ship sailing under the Liberian flag was struck by three drones inside Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone on Wednesday. Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria also agreed on the importance of protecting critical subsea infrastructure.
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