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To block or not to block? That is the question for Turkey (Opinion)

28th February 2022 - 12:04 GMT | by Tayfun Özberk in Istanbul

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Black Sea Fleet Buyan-M class corvette Vyshniy Volochek, pictured in early February in transit through the Bosphorus. (Photo: Cem Devrim Yaylali)

Turkey appears to favour implementing a clause in the Montreux Convention that could limit Russian Navy movements in the Black Sea against Ukraine – the practical advantages for Kyiv would be marginal but it would score a diplomatic and political victory.

Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlut Cavusoglu, made significant statements during a TV interview with the CNN Turk TV channel on 27 February. The minister defined the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a full-fledged war, saying: ‘There is a serious conflict between the sides. This is not a simple military operation, nor is it a one-time airstrike; the countries [Russia and Ukraine] are officially at war right now.’

Cavusoglu also referred to the Montreux Convention, which regulates the passage of warships through to and from the Black Sea with Turkey as the gatekeeper.

‘We will, of course, implement the

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Author

Tayfun Özberk

Tayfun Ozberk is a former naval officer who is an expert in surface warfare, particularly …

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