By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies

In a move that adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Turkey has declared that it will block two minehunter ships donated by the United Kingdom to Ukraine from transiting through its waters en route to the Black Sea. The announcement, made on January 2, stems from Turkey’s adherence to the 1936 Montreux Convention, which governs the wartime passage of ships through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits.

Last month, Britain pledged to transfer two Royal Navy minehunter ships to the Ukrainian Navy, aiming to bolster Ukraine’s maritime capabilities in its conflict with Russia. However, Turkey, a NATO member, has informed its allies that it will not permit the passage of these vessels through the strategically significant straits as long as the war in Ukraine persists.

The Turkish presidency’s communications directorate released a statement on social media, saying, “Our pertinent allies have been duly apprised that the mine-hunting ships donated to Ukraine by the United Kingdom will not be allowed to pass through the Turkish Straits to the Black Sea as long as the war continues.”

The decision comes as a result of Turkey invoking the Montreux Convention when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The convention, signed in 1936, grants Turkey the authority to control the passage of military ships through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles during times of war. While the pact exempts ships returning to their home bases, neither Russia nor Ukraine has expressed an intention to send their warships through the Turkish straits since the conflict began.

Turkey, which has maintained neutral ties with both Kyiv and Moscow throughout the war, emphasized that it implemented the Montreux Convention impartially and meticulously to prevent any escalation in the Black Sea region. The convention permits the passage of warships from non-belligerent parties during wartime, but it also affirms that Ankara has the final say on such passage if Turkey perceives a risk of being drawn into the conflict.

This move by Turkey not only underscores its commitment to the Montreux Convention but also raises questions about the broader implications for international aid and support in conflicts governed by such maritime agreements. As Ukraine continues to grapple with Russian aggression, the denial of passage for the donated minehunter ships adds a new dimension to the geopolitical dynamics of the ongoing crisis.