Turkey confirmed on Tuesday that minehunters would be unable to cross from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea through the strategically important Bosphorous Strait, according to Politico.
Turkish officials insist they are obliged to prevent the passage of warships in times of war under the Montreux Convention.
However, Turkey’s position has raised some doubts. The former Supreme Allied Commander-in-Chief of NATO forces in Europe said that Turkey’s decision not to hand over two naval ships to Ukraine contradicts its commitments to NATO.
Retired US Admiral James Stavridis said Turkey’s denial of passage through Turkish waters to two Royal Navy Sandown-class ships given to Kyiv by Britain to help clear mines from busy Black Sea shipping lanes was ” unfortunate.”
Turkey has been accused of not taking stronger measures against Russian auxiliary vessels passing through its waters and the Turkish government has not imposed sanctions against Moscow’s maritime exports. Exports of grain vital to Ukraine are hampered by Russian mines planted off the coast of the eastern European country, and last week a Greek-owned cargo ship was damaged after colliding with one.
Stavridis said that “Ankara is trying too hard to strike a balance and should fully lean into its role as a NATO member.”
