Turkey has begun restricting the passage of ships through the Dardanelles to ports in Ukraine and Russia
On August 10, Turkey began restricting passage through the Dardanelles for certain commercial vessels bound for ports in Ukraine and Russia. At the same time, Turkish officials note that these restrictions may be temporary.
The Turkish authorities have not explained the reasons for the restrictions. According to the agency’s sources, some vessels were informed that the restrictions apply to voyages to Ukrainian ports.
However, this does not mean a complete halt to commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
In particular, according to Bloomberg, the General Directorate of Coastal Security informed the captains of several vessels heading to Novorossiysk, Russia, that it is currently not issuing transit permits for such voyages or requires more time to review applications for passage through the Dardanelles Strait.
Some shipowners were told that the restrictions also apply to vessels heading to Ukraine, sources at the agency said on condition of anonymity.
Ships bound for Bulgarian, Romanian, Georgian, and Turkish ports are being allowed to continue north through the Dardanelles.
At the same time, Turkish officials assured Reuters that ships are passing unimpeded through the Turkish straits into the Black Sea, despite heightened security concerns.
Officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity stated that Turkey had indeed implemented some temporary measures “because it had been very concerned about security for some time,” but passage remained free in accordance with the terms of the Montreux Convention.
For example, the oil tanker Aegean Dream entered the Dardanelles Strait on Sunday after waiting in the area since Thursday, listing the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in Novorossiysk, Russia, as its destination.
The 1936 Montreux Convention regarding the regime of the straits grants Turkey control over the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles and the right to regulate the transit of military vessels, but guarantees free passage for civilian vessels in peacetime.
Earlier, Ukraine purchased 70 ATACMS ballistic missiles from Turkey.
Turkey has begun restricting the movement of some commercial vessels bound for the Black Sea due to an increase in attacks in the region. Some vessels bound for Novorossiysk, Russia, or Ukrainian ports are facing delays in obtaining permits to pass through the Dardanelles.
On August 7, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed a mutual defense agreement in Mecca. The agreement stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three states will be considered an attack on all three countries.
