Kazakhstan has expressed serious concern over recent drone attacks targeting oil tankers in the Black Sea, warning that such incidents pose growing risks to international energy infrastructure and global energy security.
In a statement issued on January 14, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Zhetybayev, said the attacks underscore the urgent need for coordinated international measures to safeguard maritime energy transportation routes.
Statement by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Zhetybayev, on the Incidents Involving Tankers in the Black Sea:
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan expresses its serious concern over the attacks carried out on January 13, 2026 by unmanned aerial vehicles against three tankers en route to the marine terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) in the Black Sea.
In this regard, during immediate meetings with ambassadors of several European countries, as well as with representatives of the United States and other international partners, we emphasized the urgent need to take effective measures to ensure the security of hydrocarbon transportation, including along maritime routes, in full compliance with international law.
We underscore that the Republic of Kazakhstan is not a party to any armed conflict, makes a significant contribution to global and European energy security, and ensures the uninterrupted supply of energy resources in full accordance with established international norms. Accordingly, we note that the aforementioned tankers possessed all the required permits and were equipped with the necessary identification systems.
The increasing frequency of such incidents highlights the growing risks to the functioning of international energy infrastructure. We therefore call upon our partners to engage in close cooperation to develop joint measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.”
Kazakhstan remains a key contributor to global and European energy markets and has consistently advocated for the protection of civilian infrastructure, freedom of navigation, and adherence to international law.
