Ukraine and Türkiye are key to Black Sea security, Turkish expert says

Ukraine and Türkiye are among the most important countries for regional security in the Black Sea, according to a Turkish expert cited by Ukrinform, with defence industry cooperation between the two nations already having reached the level of a strategic partnership.

The expert said this cooperation has the potential to expand further, underscoring the growing role both countries play in shaping security dynamics across the wider Black Sea region.

Türkiye and Ukraine share a coastline on the Black Sea and have deepened ties across defence and security matters in recent years, as the region has taken on increased strategic significance amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, which began with Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ankara has sought to position itself as a key regional actor in the Black Sea, balancing its NATO membership with a broader relationship with both Kyiv and Moscow, while also engaging in various diplomatic and defence initiatives tied to the war and its regional spillover effects.

The assessment reported by Ukrinform did not provide further specifics on the scope of current defence industry projects between the two countries, or on any concrete plans for expanding cooperation beyond describing the relationship as having reached a strategic level.

Black Sea security has become an increasingly prominent topic in regional diplomacy, with grain shipping routes, naval activity and the broader war in Ukraine all contributing to heightened attention on the maritime region from neighbouring states and international partners alike.