Turkey will continue the current restrictions on the passage of warships through the Turkish straits for as long as the war against Ukraine continues.
Turkey’s Minister of National Defence, Yaşar Güler, said this following a meeting of defence ministers and chiefs of general staff of Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania in Bulgaria, DHA reports.
“Since the start of the war, we, as Turkey, have meticulously fulfilled the requirements of the Montreux Convention regarding the security of the Black Sea, thereby preventing the war from spreading to a wider region and minimising its impact in the Black Sea. As long as the current situation persists, we will resolutely continue to apply the existing rules on the passage of warships through the Turkish straits,” Güler said.
According to the minister, the war, which has been going on for almost five years, is having a significant impact on Black Sea security. The armed forces of Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania have already taken joint measures to ensure the safety of shipping and plan to continue doing everything necessary, based on the principle of regional responsibility and the capabilities available.
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“To counter the mine threat caused by the war and ensure the safety of shipping, a mine countermeasures operation is being carried out involving national naval forces and maritime aviation. The three coastal countries have established the MCM BLACK SEA mine countermeasures task group in the Black Sea on the basis of the principle of regional responsibility,” the minister stressed.
He also noted that alongside countering drifting mines, it is necessary to focus on protecting critical underwater infrastructure.
“Turkey has assumed leadership of the maritime component command within the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine. It will continue to consistently contribute to strengthening peace and stability in the region,” —
The minister emphasised that Turkey has supported Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity since the start of the Russia–Ukraine war. At the same time, Ankara is seeking to prevent an escalation of regional crises through open channels of dialogue with Russia.
- Since the start of 2026, more than 570 vessels have been attacked in the Black Sea, and at least 40 seafarers have been killed. As a result, the route has become more dangerous for commercial shipping than routes in the Persian Gulf.