Turkey, after the end of the war in Ukraine, is ready in principle to assume responsibility and leadership in the maritime domain in the Black Sea with the participation of other partners in relation to security guarantees that will be provided on the basis of a peace agreement agreed upon by the parties.
According to information received from Turkish diplomatic sources after attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea on November 28, Turkey, warning of the risk of the war expanding towards its shores and spreading throughout the Black Sea sea, emphasizes that it will not allow the security of the Black Sea to be threatened either by relevant actors or by any other country in the world.
Turkey strongly supports the process of negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, but notes that only Russia and Ukraine have the right to make final decisions regarding any peace agreement.
Since the beginning of the war, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which promotes agreement between the parties on such important issues as the exchange of prisoners, has been given priority by Türkiye attention to ending the war.
The war is damaging to both Ukraine and Russia, and Turkey, one of the few countries that maintains ties with both sides, is ready to provide all possible support in the process of achieving peace.
With regard to the security guarantees that will be provided based on the peace agreement agreed upon by the parties after the end of the war, Turkey confirms that it is ready in principle to assume responsibility and leadership in the maritime domain in the Black Sea with the participation of other partners.
Turkey’s contribution to defense Europe
Turkey plays an important role in the defense of Europe due to its size and capabilities.
Turkey, which has the second largest army in NATO and makes the second largest contribution to NATO operations and missions, exports more than $7 billion in defense industry products.
This is made possible by the fact that the Turkish defense industry employs 100 thousand people.
Exclusion of a country in this position from participation. does not serve the interests of the European Union (EU), which seeks to create its own defense system.
NATO enlargement
Turkey recalls that NATO’s enlargement policy is based on Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty and that, according to it, new members can be admitted if their participation is considered to contribute to the security of existing members.
Accordingly, if existing members consider that a new enlargement is not possible, this should also be respected.
Turkey continues to support the integrity, unity and sovereignty of Ukraine since the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014.