The Turkish government intends to press ahead with steps to restart the grain initiative. The country’s Ministry of Defense published a formal statement in the official gazette announcing continued efforts, and the update was shared on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter).
The ministry asserted that the nation will keep leading the work to resume the Black Sea grain initiative, guided by the current presidency and its policies. This pledge reinforces Ankara’s goal of restoring uninterrupted access to grain shipments from the region, with careful attention to regional stability and economic needs.
The statement also emphasizes Turkey’s commitment to the principle of regional responsibility in the Black Sea. In practice, Ankara underscored its intent to adhere to the Montreux Convention, fulfilling the duties assigned by that framework while safeguarding national interests and regional commerce. The Montreux Convention, signed following a 1936 conference held in Switzerland among Turkey, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, Romania, and other states, established a framework for Black Sea straits governance and the passage of ships from all nations.
Historically, the agreement granted Turkey the authority to regulate maritime traffic through the straits while preserving the freedom of commercial vessels and imposing specific limitations on warships. This balance has underpinned regional shipping and security for decades, and Turkey states it remains committed to upholding these conditions.
There has been a recent update indicating that there were no shifts in the negotiations regarding restarting the grain agreement. Current dialogue on the matter continues through United Nations channels, as reported by RIA Novosti, reflecting a continued diplomatic track aimed at broad international participation and oversight.
Earlier remarks from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan highlighted concerns about the potential negative influence of Western countries on the implementation of the food initiative. The president’s comments pointed to perceived external pressures that Turkey believes must be addressed through multilateral coordination and constructive diplomacy, with ongoing negotiations designed to protect humanitarian needs and regional economic interests.