Fidan warns Black Sea escalation could spill over into Europe
Turkish top envoy says Ankara has been badly affected in recent weeks, with ships targeted and drones entering its territory.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that escalating reciprocal attacks by Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea are increasing maritime security threats and risk spreading instability beyond the region, potentially affecting wider parts of Europe.
In an exclusive interview with TRT World, Fidan said Türkiye has been directly impacted in recent weeks, with commercial ships targeted by both sides and drones entering Turkish airspace. He noted that similar incidents have also affected neighbouring countries, including Romania and Bulgaria.
“We’ve been affected badly in recent weeks,” Fidan said. “Ships have been targeted by both sides, and now drones are flying not only over the warring parties but into our territory.”
Fidan explained that the security risks in the Black Sea began several years ago with drifting naval mines, some of which reached the Istanbul Strait, at times posing a serious threat to maritime traffic through the strategically vital straits. “At one point it became so dangerous that it could have blocked ship traffic entirely,” he said.
He added that Türkiye’s military has been working closely with regional partners, particularly Romania and Bulgaria, to manage the growing risks to navigation and security. However, Fidan stressed that military coordination alone cannot resolve the situation.
“The shortest way to put an end to all these problems is to reach a ceasefire,” he said, adding that Ankara fully supports efforts to halt the fighting.
Fidan warned that continued escalation could have far-reaching consequences. “The regional escalation is very dangerous, and it may not stay here,” he said. “It could spread to different parts of Europe as well.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned earlier that attacks on commercial and civilian ships in the Black Sea benefit no one and threaten navigation safety, amid the Russia–Ukraine war. He added that Türkiye has conveyed clear warnings to both sides, stressing that Ankara has strictly enforced the Montreux Convention to prevent the conflict from spreading into the Black Sea.
The full interview with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will air exclusively on TRT World at 9:00 GMT on Thursday, December 18.