I am alluding to the below.
The Straits have been of urgent maritime strategic importance since the
Trojan War was fought near the Aegean entrance. In the declining days of the
Ottoman Empire the "Straits Question" involved the diplomats of Europe and the Ottoman Empire.
By the terms of the
London Straits Convention concluded on July 13, 1841, between the
Great Powers of
Europe —
Russia, the
United Kingdom,
France,
Austria and
Prussia — the "ancient rule" of the
Ottoman Empire was re-established by closing the Turkish straits to all
warships whatsoever, barring those of the
sultan's allies during wartime. It thus benefited
British naval power at the expense of Russian as the latter lacked direct access for its
navy to the Mediterranean.
[1]
The treaty is one in a series dealing with access to the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles. It evolved from the secret 1833
Treaty of Hünkâr İskelesi (Unkiar Skelessi), in which the Ottoman Empire guaranteed exclusive use of the Straits to "Black Sea Powers" (i.e., Ottoman Empire and Russian Empire) warships in the case of a general war.
The modern treaty controlling relations is the 1936
Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Turkish Straits, which is still in force. It gives
Republic of Turkey control over warships entering the straits but guarantees the free passage of civilian vessels in peacetime
"Montreux Convention" redirects here. For the 1937 treaty that abolished the extraterritorial legal system for foreigners in Egypt, see
Montreux Convention Regarding the Abolition of the Capitulations in Egypt.
The
Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits is a 1936 agreement that gives
Turkey control over the
Bosporus Straits and the
Dardanelles and regulates the transit of naval warships. The Convention gives Turkey full control over the Straits and guarantees the free passage of civilian vessels in peacetime. It restricts the passage of naval ships not belonging to Black Sea states. The terms of the convention have been the source of controversy over the years, most notably concerning the
Soviet Union's military access to the
Mediterranean Sea.
Signed on 20 July 1936 at the Montreux Palace
[1] in Switzerland, it permitted Turkey to remilitarise the Straits. It went into effect on 9 November 1936 and was registered in
League of Nations Treaty Series on 11 December 1936.
[2] It is still in force today, with some amendments.
The proposed controversial 21st century
Kanal İstanbul project may constitute a possible by-pass to the Montreux Convention and force greater Turkish autonomy with respect to the passage of military ships from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.
[3][4]
Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bosphorus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Turkish Straits - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia