The Turkish navy commander, Adm. Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, has stated that Turkey can secure the Black Sea itself and does not want a US or NATO presence there.
The tensions between Georgia and Russia, the problems between South Ossetia and North Ossetia, the same problems in Abkhazia, the occupation of Crimea in 2014, the Kerch Strait in 2018, and the Ukrainian-Russian war that began in 2022 have ushered in a new era in the geopolitical struggle in the Black Sea. Tatlıoğlu emphasised that Turkey will take measures in the Black Sea itself and does not want NATO or America in the area. He also highlighted the dangers of mines, which could lead to the loss of ships and natural gas deposits in the area. Turkey, a NATO ally, borders Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea and has good ties with both countries. Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Ankara has control over the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits and can limit warship passage if threatened or during wartime. Turkey has provided military support to Ukraine while maintaining economic cooperation with Russia and positions itself as a potential mediator in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia while expressing opposition to Western sanctions against Moscow.
CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE NEWS
Turkey Opposes NATO Presence in the Black Sea
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