Turkish Expert Says Erdogan Should Tell West To Allow Full Implementation of Black Sea Grain Deal

A Turkish foreign policy expert argues that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, instead of trying to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to re-enter the Black Sea Grain Initiative, should instead tell the West to allow it to be fully implemented. Aydin Sezer, a former Turkish diplomat and Ankara-based foreign policy analyst, told Reuters that Russia’s inspection of the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan vessel technically took place in a war zone, given Moscow and Kyiv’s warnings over ships. Given that Turkey has sent armed drones and other weapons to Ukraine while also claiming to be neutral in the war, “it is very challenging for Turkey to find its voice on this matter,” he said.