Turkey postpones some NATO exercises in the Black Sea, why?

Mr. Cavusoglu told the Anadolu Agency news agency: “If we had participated in sanctions, we would not have been able to perform the role of mediator as we are now. We have applied the Montreux Convention to warships but with airspace we still Open important role and we fulfill our obligations”.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Photo: AP

Under the Montreux Convention of 1936, Turkey was entitled to control the two straits Bosphorus and Dardanelles, and could limit the passage of warships in times of war or if threatened. Currently, Ankara has banned both Russian and Ukrainian military ships from passing through these straits to enter the Black Sea.

Cavusoglu reiterated that Ankara has insisted from the beginning that it will only join the UN sanctions if they are officially imposed on Russia. “Countries can now impose sanctions on whoever they want. That’s their business. We’ve chosen to mediate, we’re trying to make things easier. This role is welcomed in the European Union (EU), as well as around the world,” said Cavusoglu.

However, the Turkish foreign minister also noted that Turkey’s policy of not joining sanctions against Russia does not mean that Ankara will break the rules.