Turkiye Summons Ukraine Ambassador Over Black Sea Vessel Attacks

Turkiye summoned the ambassador of Ukraine on March 14, 2024, following two separate incidents this week where Turkish-operated vessels were struck in the Black Sea. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Ukrainian ambassador was summoned to convey Ankara's "strong condemnation" of the attacks and to emphasize the need for Ukraine to take "necessary measures" to prevent such incidents. The ministry also conveyed that Turkiye expects Ukraine to take "concrete steps" to ensure the safety of maritime navigation and Turkish-flagged vessels.

The first incident occurred on March 11, 2024, when the "Tuzla" dry cargo ship, flying the Turkish flag and operated by a Turkish company, was reportedly hit by a drone in the Black Sea, approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Odesa. The vessel sustained damage but there were no casualties reported among its 17-member crew, who were all Ukrainian nationals. The ship was able to continue its voyage to the Romanian port of Constanta.

The second incident involved the "Yagmur" vessel, a Turkish-flagged chemical tanker, which was also struck in the Black Sea. Details regarding the exact date and circumstances of this second strike were less immediately clear but were confirmed by Turkish officials as part of the reason for the diplomatic summons. The Turkish government has expressed deep concern over the escalating risks to civilian shipping in the Black Sea, a vital corridor for international trade, particularly for grain exports from Ukraine.

Ankara has maintained a delicate diplomatic balancing act since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Turkiye, a NATO member, has condemned the invasion and provided military aid to Ukraine, but has also refrained from imposing sanctions on Russia and has sought to maintain dialogue with both Moscow and Kyiv. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has positioned Turkiye as a mediator, notably facilitating the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2022, which allowed for the safe passage of Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea. The recent attacks on Turkish-operated vessels threaten to complicate these diplomatic efforts and raise tensions in the region.