Türkiye ready to lead Black Sea security role after peace deal

Türkiye is prepared to take a leading role in ensuring maritime security in the Black Sea as part of a post-war security architecture, contingent upon a mutually agreed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Ankara has reiterated that it will not allow the security of the Black Sea to be threatened by any country, issuing renewed warnings after recent attacks on commercial vessels highlighted the risk of the conflict spreading toward its coasts.

A Principled Stance on Peace and Security

The sources emphasized that only Russia and Ukraine hold the right to final decisions on any peace agreement, with Türkiye strongly supporting negotiations to end the war. Since the conflict began in February 2022, Türkiye has positioned itself as a critical mediator, facilitating initiatives like the Black Sea Grain Initiative and prisoner exchanges. As one of the few nations maintaining open dialogue with both Kyiv and Moscow, Türkiye stands ready to provide any necessary support throughout the peace process.

Türkiye's Strategic Role in European Defense

The sources also highlighted Türkiye's significant contribution to European defense, citing its status as NATO's second-largest army and the second-largest contributor to Alliance missions. With a robust defense industry employing around 100,000 people and annual defense exports exceeding $7 billion, Türkiye represents a major strategic asset. The sources argued that excluding a country with such capabilities from European defense initiatives does not serve the EU's interests as it seeks to bolster its own security structure.

NATO Enlargement and Support for Ukraine

On the issue of NATO enlargement, the sources underscored that the Alliance's open-door policy is based on Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty. They noted that if current members believe further enlargement is not feasible at a given time, that perspective should be respected. Simultaneously, Türkiye reaffirmed its continued support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, unity, and sovereignty, a stance maintained since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, balancing its principled support with pragmatic diplomacy.