Turkey’s foreign minister told his Russian counterpart that steps endangering Black Sea security or Turkish interests should be avoided.

Balancing mediation and national security

The message delivered on 16 June combined a warning with another offer of Turkish mediation between Russia and Ukraine. Ankara has maintained dialogue with both governments while emphasising the safety of navigation and coastal states.

The Black Sea is central to trade, energy and food exports, and military incidents can raise insurance and shipping costs far beyond the region. Turkey’s control of the straits under the Montreux Convention gives it a distinctive role, but a durable reduction in risk still requires commitments from the belligerents.

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