Turkey has announced plans to block two British Royal Navy ships from passing through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits on their way to Ukraine.
Knewz.com has learned that the ships, which are minehunters, were intended to help bolster Ukraine’s demining operations in the waters surrounding its Black Sea ports.
“Türkiye immediately classified Russia’s special military operation against Ukraine as ‘war’ and, in accordance with Article 19 of the Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits, closed the Straits to warships of the belligerent parties (Russia and Ukraine),” the Turkish Directorate of Communications website noted.
It then indicated that it planned to exercise the same sentiments on the former Royal Navy minehunters, saying:
“Türkiye, which has implemented the Montreux Convention impartially and diligently since 1936, maintains its unwavering determination and principled stance throughout this war to prevent the escalation of tension in the Black Sea.”
“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 British, however, have since telegraphed that they are not surprised by the statement and have indicated that they were anticipating it.
An unnamed spokesman for the UK’s Ministry of Defense said “From our side, we were not expecting those ships to be able to transfer into the Black Sea at present due to the terms of the Montreux Convention, so this is no surprise.”
The spokesperson also noted that while the transfer of the vessels remained affected by the blockade, “The Ukrainian sailors crewing those vessels will be able to conduct valuable training alongside the UK and NATO allies,” per the UK Express.
Another UK Ministry of Defense member speaking to The UK Sun was quoted saying: “Back when the transfer was confirmed at a joint press conference last month, the Chief of the Ukrainian Navy commented on this issue specifically.”
What was also mentioned during the official announcement by the British Navy to give away its HMS Grimsby and HMS Shoreham Sandown-class minehunters, was that along with its intention to help Ukraine clear its waters of Russian sea mines, it was entertaining the idea of helping Ukraine build a naval force.
“The new maritime coalition will work closely with the Ukrainian Navy and Ministry of Defence to develop a number of capabilities, including the rapid development of a maritime force in the Black Sea, continuing to develop a Ukrainian Marine Corps, and river patrol craft to defend coastal and inland waterways,” the British Government’s national website declared.
The latest development follows in the wake of Britain’s turn at the head of NATO’s rapid reaction force \- UK Secretary of Defense Grant Shapps has been rather more vocal than usual since his country took the reins, and recently said:
“We believe that we simply can’t have an outcome where an autocratic dictator walks into a neighboring democratic country and then the West gets bored of it.”
“That is an unacceptable outcome. That is why the UK will keep reminding people that that can’t happen,” he said (via GB News).
Source: Knewz
