Montreux Convention (UPSC Current Affairs)

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Why in the news?

• In response to Russia's war in Ukraine, Turkey is set to activate the Montreux Convention.
• The declaration states that the situation in Ukraine has devolved into a war authorizes Turkey to activate the Montreux Convention and ban Russian vessels from entering the Black Sea via the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.

Where are the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits located?

• The Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, often known as the Turkish Straits or the Black Sea Straits, connect the Aegean and Black Seas through the Sea of Marmara.
• It is the only way for Black Sea ports to access the Mediterranean and beyond.
• Every day, over three million barrels of oil, or about 3% of the world's daily supply, pass through this waterway, the majority of which is produced in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan.
• Large amounts of iron, steel, and agricultural products are also transported from the Black Sea coast to Europe and the rest of the world along this route.

What is meant by the Montreux Convention?

• Australia, France, Bulgaria, Greece, Japan, Yugoslavia, Romania, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and Turkey signed the international agreement, which has been in effect since November 1936.
• The Montreux Convention on the Regime of the Straits provides Turkey control over the sea route between the Black Sea.
• On the Crimean Peninsula, Russia has a large navy base at Sevastopol.
• Ships must, however, transit through 2straits controlled by Turkey under the Montreux Convention in order to move to and from the Mediterranean — and beyond.

It limits civilian and military warship passage across the Dardanelles and the Bosporus straits. The Montreux Convention's essential elements are as follows:

• In the case of a war, the pact allows Turkey the authority to regulate naval warship transit and to block the straits to warships from the countries involved in the conflict.
• Any country with a Black Sea coastline — Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, or Ukraine – must notify Turkey eight days in advance of their intention to send vessels through the straits.
  • Other countries that do not border the Black Sea must give Turkey 15 days' notice.
• Turkey has previously used the convention's powers. During WWII, Turkey prevented the Axis powers from sending warships to attack the Soviet Union and prevented the Soviet navy from combat in the Mediterranean.

What is Turkey's Role in the Current Crisis?

• The Turkish government is currently in a difficult position, as both Ukraine and Russia are key partners in major energy and military trade agreements.
• Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, seeks to enhance ties with the West while avoiding upsetting Russia. Its control over these critical straits may test its balancing act.
• In this respect, Turkey has claimed that it cannot block all Russian warships from entering the Black Sea due to a pact clause that exempts those returning to their registered base.
• Article 19 of the treaty makes an exception for Black Sea countries that can effectively undermine Turkey's power by blocking Russian warships from entering or exiting the Black Sea.
• Vessels of war belonging to the belligerent powers, whether or not they are Black Sea Powers, that have become separated from their bases may return to them.
• This exception allows Russia to use the Montreux Convention in an alternate way by reassigning some of its vessels to the Black Sea.