U.S. to send two warships to Black Sea, Russia voices concerns

U.S. to send two warships to Black Sea, Russia voices concerns
Date: 11.4.2021 15:00

The United States will send two warships to the Black Sea next week, Turkey said on Friday as Russia, which has boosted its military forces near Ukraine, accused NATO powers that do not have a coast line in the region of increasing naval activity.

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"A notice was sent to us 15 days ago via diplomatic channels that two U.S. warships would pass to the Black Sea in line with the Montreux Convention. The ships will remain in the Black Sea until May 4," the ministry said.
 
The 1936 Montreux Convention gives Turkey control over the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, limits access of naval warships and governs foreign cargo ships.
 
The ministry's statement came a day after a U.S. defense official told CNN that the United States is considering sending warships into the Black Sea in the next few weeks. 
 
The U.S. official said on April 8 that the move is a show of support for Ukraine as Russia has been increasing its military presence on Ukraine's eastern border.
 
The Pentagon and U.S. State Department have recently expressed their concern about Russia's increasing influence in the region.
 
"We are concerned by recent escalating Russian aggressions in eastern Ukraine, including the credible reports that have been emanating about Russian troop movements on Ukraine's borders and occupied Crimea," U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said earlier this week.
 
"We have asked Russia for an explanation of these provocations, but most importantly what we have signaled directly with our Ukrainian partners is a message of reassurance," he said.
 
The U.S.'s move comes as the possibility of Turkey's leaving the Montreux Convention has been recently raised during discussions about the construction of Istanbul Kanal, which is an artificial shipping canal project that aims to connect the Black Sea to the Marmara.

YEREL HABERLER

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