Turkey Blocks UK Minehunters from Entering Black Sea

Turkey has blocked two British minehunter ships from entering the Black Sea, citing the Montreux Convention.

Turkey invoked the 1936 Montreux Convention when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, closing Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits to warships of the belligerent parties. The convention exempts ships returning to their home bases from it. The UK, not being a combatant in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, is not restricted by the terms of the Montreux Convention.

In a statement, the Turkish presidency defended the decision, stating, "Turkey has implemented Montreux impartially and meticulously to prevent escalation in the Black Sea." The situation gains significance following a recent incident where a Panama-flagged bulk carrier struck a Russian mine in the Black Sea, injuring two crew members.

Turkey's plans to form a minesweeping group have faced delays since at least October. The decision to block British minehunter ships donated to the Ukrainian navy has sparked discussions within naval circles, with scrutiny on the application of the Montreux Convention and Turkey's diplomatic maneuvers.

The key issue lies in Turkey's diplomatic request made in February 2022, asking non-Black Sea navies to avoid entering the Black Sea during the conflict. This request, distinct from the Montreux Convention, appears to have been conflated with it in Turkey's recent communications. Turkey seems to be suggesting that its hands are tied by international law, while in reality, the prohibition of non-belligerent nations like the UK aligns more with its own diplomatic policy.

Questions arise about the UK's decision to donate ships to Ukraine and why they were not deployed with Royal Navy crews or donated to Romania, a non-combatant neighbor.

Turkey has also objected to allowing the UK's NATO mine countermeasures group to operate in the Black Sea, complicating the geopolitical dynamics of the region.

The Ukrainian Navy is set to receive two Sandown-class minehunters within an agreement between Ukraine and the UK ratified in January 2022. In January 2023, the minesweepers Cherkasy and Chernihiv went to sea for the first time under the Ukrainian flag. The minesweepers are made of reinforced fiberglass and are equipped with remotely operated search vehicles for mine detection and destruction. Their secondary function is patrolling. Ukrainian sailors were reported to be in the UK in the summer of 2023 for training on these vessels.