Turkey Confirms Smooth Ship Passage to Black Sea Continues

Two Turkish government officials confirmed on Sunday that ships continue to transit smoothly through Turkish waterways to the Black Sea, despite increasing safety concerns. Ankara had previously imposed restrictions on commercial vessels bound for the Black Sea after attacks on ships there, including Turkish-owned ones. Turkey has issued repeated warnings to Moscow and Kyiv regarding Black Sea attacks, urging both warring parties to take measures to ensure safe navigation. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated Saturday that Ankara informed Moscow and Kyiv of the necessity to declare a temporary halt to attacks there. The officials, who declined to be identified, indicated Turkey had implemented temporary measures to address escalating security concerns, but the passage remained open under the Montreux Convention. The 1936 convention grants Turkey control over the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, with authority to regulate warship passage. It also guarantees freedom of passage for civilian vessels in peacetime and restricts transit of ships not belonging to Black Sea states.