Why Turkey Cannot Close Bosporus Strait Only For Russian Ships

Turkey cannot close the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits only for the Russian ships. The “Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of Straits” is a “strategic thread” between the two countries, Turkish political analyst said.

The breach of this convention can lead to negative consequences, including in terms of security matters, Mensur Akgun a Turkish professor at Istanbul Kültür University, political analyst and columnist at the Turkish Daily Star said during an interview with newspaper Haber Turk.

“In accordance with the Montreux Convention, warships of the coastal countries are obliged to notify 8 days prior to passing the straits. In case of the annulment of the Convention this rule will be canceled. The Montreux Convention also introduces restrictions on weapon carrying. If it is canceled there will be no restrictions,” Akgun explained.

“The Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits” was signed in 1936 in Switzerland. It regulates shipping in the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits and regulates the transit of naval warships.

It limits the passage of naval ships not belonging to Black Sea states in peacetime. Countries with access to the Black Sea, in some cases, can pass through the straits in their submarines and large ships without tonnage limits under certain conditions of the convention.

Turkey monitors the Convention and if it would be in a state of war or facing a threat, it may allow or prohibit passage of any naval warships.