Turkey's Ministry of National Defense announced on 15/12 that it detected and tracked an object approaching its airspace from the Black Sea. In response, F-16 fighter jets were deployed. Turkish jets subsequently shot down the target after identifying it as an "out of control" unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The ministry stated the UAV was shot down "in a safe location, outside residential areas," but did not specify the exact time or location. The origin and type of the UAV were also not disclosed, and no country has claimed responsibility for the drone.

A Turkish F-16 fighter jet during an exercise in Ankara on 11/10. Photo: AFP

This incident occurs amid heightened tensions in the Black Sea, a critical waterway for regional security. On 13/12, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan warned against the Black Sea becoming a "zone of confrontation" between Russia and Ukraine. His warning followed several attacks targeting vessels in the region.

Erdogan had previously expressed concern over the "worrying escalation of tension" in the Black Sea. This concern stems from Ukrainian attacks on cargo ships suspected of belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet" off the Turkish coast. Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin declared Russia could "cut off Ukraine's access to the sea" in retaliation for attacks on oil tankers in the Black Sea. Adding to the volatility, a Turkish cargo ship was damaged on 12/12 during a Russian attack on the Odesa province in southern Ukraine.

Location of Turkey and the Black Sea. Graphic: Geopolitical Monitor

Turkey, a nation bordering the Black Sea to its north, has maintained good relations with both Russia and Ukraine since the conflict began in early 2022. The country maintains a robust air defense network to monitor its border regions, especially along the Black Sea coast, where security threats from unknown UAVs may emerge.

Pham Giang (According to AFP, Turkiye Today)