Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said he doesn’t rule out that that drifting mines appeared in the Black Sea with an intent to exert pressure on Ankara to make it allow the passage of NATO warships via the Bosporus.

“We have suspicions about whether the mines were left intentionally. Maybe these mines were left as part of a plan to [draw] minesweepers that belong to NATO to enter the Black Sea, to put us in a difficult position.

We do not know who left the mines. They are Russian-made, but which country left them – this is being examined. There are news that there are around 400 mines. We have spoken with the authorities of Bulgaria and Romania. They are also conducting examination works”, - he said.

Akar stressed Turkey would adhere to the rules of the Montreux Convention, which gives Turkey control of its straits and authority to regulate the transit of naval warships, and that Ankara would not let warships to enter the Black Sea.

“We will not let the Black Sea get dragged into war”, - he added.