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Author : V. Zanina
Attaché, Historico-Documentary Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation,
postgraduate student at the Diplomatic Academy
"BOSPORUS' TRAFFIC will be reduced to zero," Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey stated in April
2011 as he spoke to a thousands-strong Turkish audience,
suggesting as an alternative to the current Bosporus a
new "grandiose project," the Bosporus-2 (the official
name being Kanal Istanbul).
The Turkish side has not given clear explanations about
the status of the Bosporus-2, having only announced a
number of proposals for its use.
If it is solely about the construction of an additional ma-
rine bypass route from the Sea of Marmara to the Black
Sea, without a ban on navigation through the Bosporus, then it is logical to raise the question of the ex-
tension of the Montreux Convention to the Bosporus-2.
The USSR, being "locked" in the Black Sea, unable, moreover, to pass its fleet through the Straits to defend
itself from outside threats, had indeed to raise the issue of the need to revise the Convention.
The entry of Turkey into NATO in 1952 became the next step in its "historic mission" of strengthening
its role in the region, inextricably linked to the control of the Straits.
The reason for the Turkish manipulations is that it is difficult to change or cancel the Convention. This re-
quires a lengthy process of negotiation through the diplomatic channels.
In the context of today's political fragmentation of the world and the region, the likelihood of any new
options to replace the old Straits arrangements that are acceptable to all parties concerned, is extremely
small.
Even though Turkey is pushing environmental considerations as justification for the closure of the
Bosporus and the opening of the Bosporus-2, there are also possible military-political aspects to the ini-
tiative. For example, the strategic plans of the Russian Empire did not separate the issue of the Straits from
the issue of the status of Constantinople. The Bosporus Strait has a direct relationship to providing security
for the former Turkish capital. Plans are to dig the new strait more to the west, banning regular navigation
near Istanbul itself.
Meanwhile, strengthening the Russian presence in the Mediterranean is currently a top priority due to
threats of economic sanctions and international legal actions against Russia.
Historically, the policy of the United States was to "neutralize" the Straits because it began to expand into
the Middle Eastern region later than other powers and did not have necessary influence on political events.
In view of this, it appears that the purported goals of Turkey and the United States in respect of the Straits
differ slightly. Turkey's erosion of the Straits agreements aims at expanding its powers. Along with this,
however, it wants to retain its rights under the Montreux Convention. Meanwhile, the United States' plans
seek complete removal of the agreements limiting military navigation of non-Black Sea countries.
The Bosporus-2 Project as Viewed From the Kremlin