Turkey has tried to balance between Russia and the West during the Ukrainian war. The trade in stolen grain threatens to anger the West.
NATO country Turkey is suspected of involvement in the trade in grain stolen from Ukraine.
An analyst following shipping on the Bosphorus says on Twitter that at least two Russian ships carrying stolen grain have recently unloaded in the northwestern Turkish port of Bandırma.
Bosphorus Observer website administrator Yörük Işıkin according to both ships had left the port of Sevastopol on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.
Sevastopol an important port of transit
According to a Turkish source, the stolen Ukrainian grain imported into Turkey is to be processed into food and exported or sold on the Turkish market.
In this way, the origin of the grain is erased. Another option would be to reload the grain as a “turkey” and resell it.
Turkey balanced between Russia and the West
In recent years, Turkey has tried to strike a balance between Putin’s Russia and the West. Its role during the Ukrainian war has been twofold.
It has sold arms to Ukraine, but is not involved in sanctions against Russia. The trade in stolen grain would be another example of Turkish attempts to reap the full benefits of the war in Ukraine.
The arrival of cargo ships carrying thousands of tons of grain in Turkish ports is unlikely to take place without the tacit approval of the authorities.