site.btaTurkish Defence Minister Calls for Avoiding Steps That Could Raise Regional Tensions

Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler called for avoiding steps that could increase tensions in the Black Sea region, saying the safety of shipping and the maritime areas of Black Sea countries were red lines that Russia and Ukraine must not cross. Speaking after a trilateral meeting in Sofia between Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye on Black Sea security and defence, Guler said the three countries’ armed forces had the capacity to take all necessary measures, but stressed the importance of careful diplomacy and sound tactical and strategic decisions. 

“Through careful diplomatic moves, it is extremely important to avoid steps and approaches that would increase tensions and risks in the region,” he said.

Guler said Turkiye had supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty since the first day of the war while seeking to keep channels for negotiations and diplomacy with Russia open. He said this approach had helped prevent the crisis from escalating.

He also said Turkiye had strictly implemented the Montreux Convention, which governs passage through the Turkish Straits, since the beginning of the war. In his view, this had helped prevent the conflict from spreading across a wider area and kept its impact on the Black Sea at the lowest possible level.

At the same time, Guler expressed concern over the growing number of attacks on commercial vessels.

Meanwhile, a container ship was struck by three maritime drones about 21 nautical miles southeast of the Bulgarian coastal town of Shabla while the trilateral meeting of the defence ministers and chiefs of defence of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye was under way in Sofia to discuss security and defence in the Black Sea region.

The incident follows a series of attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea in recent weeks. 

Together with Bulgaria and Romania, Turkiye should send a united message to both warring parties that commercial routes and the maritime areas of Black Sea countries must not be violated, he said.

Guler said Turkiye would continue contributing to peace and stability in the region. He also recalled that Bulgaria, Turkiye and Romania had established a NATO mine countermeasures group in the Black Sea to address the threat posed by sea mines. Other countries could contribute to its activities without deploying ships, he added.

Guler said protecting underwater infrastructure was also important. In this regard, an addendum to the relevant agreement was signed on July 7, 2026, during the NATO summit, he said.