Facing drone attacks in Europe: Erdogan stands up to NATO
Turkey continues to enforce the ban on the passage of warships through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, against the backdrop of increasing drone attacks on commercial vessels in Europe. Ankara presents itself as a mediator with the Kremlin, while at least four ships were attacked this month near Bulgaria and two near Romania.
Turkey, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, continues to enforce the ban on the passage of warships through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, in accordance with the 1936 Montreux Convention. This decision comes amid an increase in drone attacks on commercial vessels in Europe, which have recently reached the territorial waters of Romania and Bulgaria. According to the report, at least four ships were attacked this month off the coast of Bulgaria and two more near Romania, and the military prosecution in Bulgaria has opened a war crimes investigation following the damage to the ship Chelsea 3. Despite pressure from NATO members, Ankara brands itself as a mediator with the Kremlin. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan presented a plan to remove the Black Sea from the war zone, including a partial ceasefire for civilian merchant ships. The article cites only one Turkish source and does not include the response of NATO or the affected countries.