In a recent turn of events, Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed that the country would block two British military minehunter ships en route to Ukraine from passing through the Turkish Straits, citing adherence to the 1936 Montreux Convention.
It was declared publicly that these ships, donated by the United Kingdom, would not be allowed to transition through the Turkish Straits on the way to the Black Sea as long as the conflict continues. The Montreux Convention provides for safe passage of warships through the straits without adversity from the Turkish government. Nevertheless, it permits Türkiye to obstruct the straits for war vessels associated with ‘belligerent Powers’ under its Article 19. This provision has been invoked given Türkiye’s classification of the ongoing tensions triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as an act of war.
Despite barring warships, Türkiye has previously accepted the travel of Russian and Ukrainian merchant ships under the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative. This ended when Russia decided to withdraw from the pact in July.
Following the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, tensions intensified in the Black Sea region. Ukraine eventually had to create a new corridor for grain transport, in an attempt to circumnavigate the Russian blockade. However, this corridor too faced significant safety issues due to threats posed by Russian mines and warplanes. In late December, the Ukrainian government reported that a cargo ship attempting to export Ukrainian grain had hit a Russian mine, resulting in multiple injuries.
Türkiye continues to underline its commitment to the Montreux Convention, maintaining a firm stance on its non-partisan application throughout these fraught diplomatic situations. It remains to be seen how this decision will unfold in the geopolitical dynamics of the region.