In the backdrop of the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey is contemplating invoking the Montreux Convention. This international agreement, effective since November 1936, empowers Turkey to regulate naval transit through the key straits of Bosporus and Dardanelles which connect the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea. The geopolitical significance of these straits stems from their unique location as the solitary passage linking Black Sea ports with the Mediterranean and beyond.
Approximately three million barrels of oil pass through this critical waterway daily, accounting for around 3% of the global supply. This oil is predominantly sourced from Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. Besides, the route facilitates the transport of crucial commodities such as iron, steel, and agricultural products from the Black Sea coast to Europe and the world.
Insight into the Montreux Convention
The Montreux Convention, a treaty involving Australia, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Japan, Romania, Yugoslavia, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and Turkey, gives Turkey control over the integral maritime route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. In the context of the convention, Russia’s significant navy base at Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula gains prominence since its naval vessels must navigate through the Turkey-governed straits to access the Mediterranean and areas further afield.
The Convention stipulates regulations on the transit of civilian and military vessels through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. Key provisions include Turkey’s right to control the transit of naval warships during wartime and block straits access to belligerent nations’ vessels. For Black Sea bordering countries intending to send war vessels through the straits, an eight-day prior notification to Turkey is mandatory, while non-bordering nations must provide fifteen days of advance notice.
Turkey has previously exercised its convention-given powers, blocking warship access to the Axis powers and the Soviet navy during World War II.
Role of Turkey in the Current Ukraine-Russia Crisis
The current conflict puts Turkey in a challenging situation given its significant energy and military trade ties with both Ukraine and Russia. As a NATO member since 1952, Turkey is striving to solidify its association with the West without straining its relations with Russia, making its control over the pivotal straits a test of diplomatic finesse.
In this context, Turkey maintains that it cannot entirely block Russian warships from the Black Sea due to a clause in the Montreux Convention that permits vessels separated from their bases during a conflict to return. This presents Russia an opportunity to potentially maneuver around Turkey’s blocking power by reassigning some of its vessels to the Black Sea.
As the situation unfolds, the Montreux Convention’s nuances, Turkey’s response, and the implication of these developments on countries including India merit close observation and analysis.