Black Sea grain deal is result of Türkiye's mediator role: Erdoğan

Türkiye's mediator role between Russia and Ukraine helped achieved the Black Sea grain deal in Istanbul in July, the country's president said on Sunday.

"Unfortunately, the West has only made provocations and failed to make efforts to be a mediator in the Ukraine-Russia war. As Türkiye, we assumed this mediator role in 2022, and we began to operate the Black Sea grain corridor," said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an event with youth in the eastern Erzurum province.

Erdoğan said Europe received about 44% of grain exported from Ukraine while Türkiye received 16% and African countries 14%.

Citing Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to send grain and fertilizers to the least-developed and developing countries, especially in Africa, Erdoğan said his country will make flour from Russian grain to be sent together with Russia and the UN to African countries in need.

In July, Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February. A Joint Coordination Center with officials from the three countries and the UN was set up in Istanbul to oversee the shipments.

The first ship carrying grain departed on Aug. 1 from the Ukrainian port of Odesa under the historic deal.

Türkiye, internationally praised for its unique mediator role between Ukraine and Russia, has repeatedly called on Kyiv and Moscow to end the war through negotiations.

The Turkish president also said the export of fertilizers is a "more intense part of the job" as he affirmed to take steps together with Russia on the issue.

Noting that the natural gas found in the Black Sea is one of the most significant development, Erdogan said: "We will use the 540 billion cubic meters of natural gas discovered in the Black Sea during the first quarter of 2023 at our homes."

In 2020, Türkiye discovered 540 billion cubic meters (19 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas in the Black Sea. Türkiye's ships, Fatih, Yavuz, and Kanuni, continue drilling operations in the Black Sea.

Erdoğan said the country is also marking "serious developments" in the defense industry.

"Türkiye has made such a daring move in the defense industry and with this move, all attention was turned to Türkiye. The entire West, including the US, all of them have the desire to receive this technology (from Türkiye)," he said.

"Again, next year (in 2023), mass production of our combat unmanned fighter aircraft Kizilelma will begin, and we will be rolling out our national combat aircraft from the hangar," the Turkish president said.

Earlier last week, Turkish defense firm Baykar conducted the maiden flight of its unmanned aerial combat vehicle Kizilelma.

Featuring a low radar signature thanks to its design, the Kizilelma will be able to perform the most challenging missions. It will also be capable of flying with a payload of up to 1,500 kilograms (3,300 pounds), equipped with Turkish-made munitions and a high situational awareness with the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, also developed domestically.