Ukraine says that Russia has transferred weapons to the Black Sea using Russian merchant ships carrying cargo through the Turkish Straits (Dardanelles and Bosporus). Ukraine urged Türkiye officially to block the passage of these ships from the straits. An unnamed Turkish official told the WSJ that under Article 4, there is no possibility of blocking Russian ships.
Author’s Comment:
According to the Montreux Convention, the passage of commercial ships, regardless of their cargo, cannot be prevented. (Article 4) Türkiye has the right in this sense. Türkiye follows Montreux to the letter when it comes to Russia. However, as far as the ships of non-Black Sea littoral countries are concerned, Türkiye interprets the convention in a way that is to their detriment. Since the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Turkish officials including Foreign and Defense ministers stated that they will not allow the requests of non-littoral countries’ warships to sail into the Black Sea using the Straits.
However, according to article 19 of the Convention, which regulates the situation that there is a war, but Turkey is not at war, warships of other countries who are not at war, too, can use the straits almost the same as they do in peacetime.
