Turkey demanded that Ukraine and Russia stop attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea and warned of possible legal measures in case of further strikes. Ankara is also seeking an agreement that should ensure the safety of merchant shipping and grain transportation.
This was stated on October 28 by Turkish National Defense Minister Yashar Guler after a meeting with counterparts from Bulgaria and Romania in Sofia, Reuters reports.
According to the minister, Ankara is concerned about the increasing number of attacks on commercial vessels, including ships under the Turkish flag and owned by Turkish companies. As a result of hostilities, civilian shipping faces threats from drones, missiles, and drifting sea mines.
Guler emphasized that Turkey reserves all rights provided by law regarding attacks on ships under the Turkish flag or owned by Turkish companies.
The minister said that Ankara regularly sends warnings to Moscow and Kyiv, demanding that civilian shipping not be drawn into military actions.
The Turkish side has also conveyed to Ukraine and Russia a proposal to stop attacks on merchant ships and ensure safe grain transportation through the Black Sea. According to Guler, Ankara is still awaiting a response from both sides.
A new attack occurred off the coast of Bulgaria
The Turkish minister's statement came after another attack on a commercial vessel in the western Black Sea.
On October 28, three sea drones struck the container ship Contship Jet, which was in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. The vessel belongs to a Greek operator, sails under the Liberian flag, and was traveling from Israeli Haifa to Romanian Constanta.
As reported by the Bulgarian outlet Nova citing Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, the attack occurred approximately 21 nautical miles from the town of Shabla. The crew of 18 people was evacuated.
However, it is not yet possible to determine who exactly attacked the container ship. Responsibility for the strike has not been officially confirmed.
In recent weeks, attacks on merchant ships near Bulgaria and Romania have become more frequent. Ukraine blames Russia for them, while Moscow denies its involvement.
As Kurs.com.ua previously reported, on October 23 near the Romanian port of Constanta, the commercial vessel Khoryv sank after a drone strike, with Ukrainian sailors on board.
Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania agreed to strengthen security
Following the meeting in Sofia, the defense ministers of the three countries issued a joint statement in which they condemned attacks on commercial ships and called on the parties to the conflict to comply with international law.
As reported by Anadolu, the parties agreed to intensify the exchange of information and intelligence data, improve maritime domain awareness, and enhance early warning systems.
A separate area will be the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, including communication and energy facilities.
Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania are already participating in a joint operation to detect and neutralize mines in the Black Sea. Now cooperation is expected to be expanded to other threats to civilian shipping.
The joint statement emphasizes that the Black Sea remains a vital route for international trade, including supplies of grain, fertilizers, and energy resources. Disruption of shipping creates risks for global supply chains, especially for countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
The next consultations on Black Sea security issues are planned to be held in Ankara and Bucharest.
Earlier, on October 8, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan already warned about the threat of the Black Sea turning into a new front of war. However, after that statement, attacks on merchant ships continued.
