Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar addressed allegations regarding the potential opening of the Turkish straits to US Navy ships, which would aid in the search and removal of an MQ-9 drone wreckage in the Black Sea. Akar stated that the issue is being closely monitored, and that they are working with the United States to find a peaceful solution. He also mentioned that the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry are in contact with the Presidential Administration to determine the next steps.

In the meantime, John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator at the White House National Security Council, spoke with CNN about the difficulty of retrieving the UAV wreckage from the Black Sea bottom.

The incident occurred on March 14, when a Russian fighter collided with an American UAV over the Black Sea.