Turkey avoids blaming Russia for Black Sea drone attacks to protect trade ties

Turkey is declining to publicly attribute recent drone strikes on commercial shipping in the Black Sea to Russia, despite mounting evidence, in order to avoid escalating the Ukraine war and safeguard its commercial and strategic interests. The situation remains fluid, with Ankara balancing NATO obligations against its economic relationship with Moscow. This restraint signals a potential rift within NATO and underscores the fragility of Black Sea shipping routes.