The Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, stated on October 8, 2023, in a statement regarding the situation in the Black Sea that the increase in military attacks between Russia and Ukraine has severely jeopardized maritime security. These remarks come as tensions in the region are rising, especially before the winter season.
Turkey's Concerns About Black Sea Security
Fidan noted that global powers must not allow the Black Sea to become a new front of war. He added, "Currently, both sides are trying to gain military superiority before entering the cold season, and this has serious implications for navigation security in the Black Sea."
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Turkey, which has maintained good relations with both Russia and Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has repeatedly called on both sides to cease their attacks in the Black Sea. These attacks have harmed commercial vessels flying the Turkish flag as well as ships owned by Turkey. Ankara is awaiting a response to a proposal it made to stop these attacks and ensure the security of grain exports from the region to Russia and Ukraine.
Escalation of Attacks and Its Consequences
Since July, Ukraine has increased its attacks on ships and infrastructure that assist in the export of Russian oil and grain. This shift in Ukraine's policy follows intensified missile and drone attacks by Russia on Ukrainian grain export hubs such as Odessa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi.
In a late September meeting, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, told his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, that the attacks by Russia and Ukraine on commercial ships in the Black Sea are unjustifiable and that measures must be taken to stop these attacks.
The Black Sea Grain Agreement, signed in July 2022 through Turkey and the United Nations, was established to allow safe exports of Ukrainian grain amid the war. However, Russia withdrew from this agreement last year, citing serious obstacles to its food and fertilizer exports.
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