The Turkish Ministry of Defense has pledged to uphold the Black Sea's status as a sea of peace, emphasizing its strict adherence to the provisions of the Montreux Convention, which regulates navigation rules in the Black Sea straits.
According to Yaşar Güler, the head of the Turkish Ministry of Defense, Turkey will not allow any violations of the Black Sea's peaceful status.
"Since the beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, we have consistently applied the provisions of the Montreux Convention regarding our Black Sea strategy. The Black Sea is primarily a sea of peace, and we aim to maintain its tranquility," Güler stated in an interview with Milliyet newspaper when asked about the United States' newly mentioned "Black Sea strategy" in its 2024 defense budget.
"Whenever there's an issue, our American friends come up with a strategy," Güler remarked on this matter.
Furthermore, Güler highlighted that security measures in the Black Sea are being taken by the coastal states, pointing to a memorandum signed in January 2024 between Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria on establishing an anti-mine naval group. "Security measures will also be developed and implemented by the coastal states of the Black Sea basin. These are our guiding principles," he emphasized.
Turkey has consistently affirmed its strict observance of the Montreux Convention, which was signed in 1936. Based on its 19th article, Turkey has closed the straits zone (the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles) to the passage of military ships from countries involved in conflicts and non-coastal states since the beginning of Special Military Operations. This measure aims to prevent further escalation of tension in the Black Sea basin.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS