ANKARA DAILY - 26 MARCH 2026
Turkish-Operated Tanker Struck By Drone In Black Sea; AKP Official Confirms Message-Passing Role Between US-Iran; Fuel Flows Continue Amid Regional Disruption
Turkish-Operated Oil Tanker Struck by Drone in Black Sea Carrying Russian Crude
Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu confirmed a Turkish-operated tanker carrying Russian crude oil from Novorossiysk was hit by a suspected naval drone near the Bosphorus Thursday morning. All 27 Turkish crew members are safe, engine room damaged.
Turkey Relaying Messages Between US and Iran to Encourage De-Escalation
AKP vice chair Harun Armağan confirms Turkey is passing messages between US and Iran to reduce tensions and encourage direct negotiations, also conveying messages to Gulf states amid war escalation.
Turkish Defense Minister Signs Eurofighter Support Agreement With UK in London
Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and British Defense Secretary John Healey signed training and support deal for Turkey's purchase of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, advancing last year's $11 billion defense agreement.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: A Turkish-operated oil tanker carrying Russian crude was struck by a suspected naval drone in the Black Sea near the Bosphorus on March 26, damaging the engine room but causing no injuries to the 27-member Turkish crew, according to Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu. AKP foreign affairs vice chair Harun Armağan publicly confirmed Turkey's intermediary role between the United States and Iran, stating Ankara "is playing a role passing messages" to encourage de-escalation and direct negotiations. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar denied reports of Iranian gas supply disruptions, asserting Turkey's Middle East oil dependence stands at just 10 percent. The EBRD warned the Middle East conflict could slow global growth by at least 0.4 percentage points and raise inflation by over 1.5 points if oil prices remain above $100 per barrel and supply chain disruptions persist. END SUMMARY.
