Turkey will not allow warships donated to Ukraine to enter the Black Sea, Erdogan messes with NATO

Turkey has announced that it will not allow two minehunter ships donated by Britain to Ukraine to go to the Black Sea. To enter the Black Sea, these ships will have to pass through Turkish waters. Turkey claims that if this warship passes through its waters, it will be a violation of an international agreement. Britain said last month it would transfer two Royal Navy minehunter ships to the Ukrainian Navy to help strengthen Ukraine’s maritime operations in the war with Russia.

Turkey has already informed Britain

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Communications Directorate said NATO member Turkey informed allies that it will not allow ships to use its Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits as long as the war in Ukraine continues. A statement said, “Our relevant allies have been duly made aware that as long as the war continues, mine-hunting vessels donated by the United Kingdom to Ukraine will not be allowed to pass through the Turkish Straits to the Black Sea .

Turkey cited the Montreux Convention of 1936

When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey invoked the 1936 Montreux Convention. This effectively blocked the way for military ships of the warring countries to enter and exit the Black Sea to join the war. The agreement exempts ships returning to home bases, but neither Russia nor Ukraine have expressed any intention to move their warships through the Turkish Straits to the Black Sea since the war began.

Türkiye has also warned NATO countries

Turkey has also warned its NATO allies not to send warships through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. According to the Montreux Convention, warships of countries not involved in the war may pass through the strait during times of war. But the convention also says that Turkey has the final authority to order all warships to enter and exit the Black Sea via this route if it considers itself in danger of being drawn into the war. President Erdogan said Turkey has implemented Montreux fairly and carefully to prevent escalation in the Black Sea.