Istanbul, July 7 2024 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has proposed a plan to transport Russian grain to Africa and other regions to address the ongoing food crisis and high food prices exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions on Russia.

In a recent bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, Erdogan emphasized the importance of reopening and utilizing the Black Sea Corridor for grain transportation. He suggested that instead of targeting European markets, the grain should be directed towards African nations and other regions facing food security challenges.

"We have started very well, especially in grain supply through the Black Sea Corridor. You know, we have transported 30 million tonnes of grain through this corridor," Erdogan stated to the media. "I have proposed to Putin to transport grain to Africa through a corridor via Turkey. At the same time, I sought his views on introducing a new mechanism for supplying grain to other countries sensitive to food security."

The proposal comes in response to the significant dependency of various African countries on Russian crops. The blockade and disrupted free trade have led to economic difficulties for these nations, particularly in grain imports.

In July 2022, the United Nations, Turkey, and Russia signed an agreement establishing the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This initiative created a safe maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea, enabling the export of over a thousand ships loaded with grain and other foodstuffs from three Ukrainian ports. 

However, Russia withdrew from the agreement on July 17 last year, leading to a severe food crisis in many African countries dependent on these supplies.

Erdogan's new proposal aims to reinvigorate grain transport through Turkey, ensuring that the regions most in need receive the necessary supplies to combat the food crisis. This initiative highlights Turkey's strategic role in mediating and facilitating international grain shipments, potentially stabilizing food prices and addressing hunger in vulnerable economies.

The global community awaits Putin's response to Erdogan's proposal, which could significantly impact the food security of numerous countries if implemented.