The Latest Breaking News from Dardanelles

Turkey restricts some Black Sea ship traffic amid security concerns

Turkey is restricting some commercial vessel traffic into the Black Sea amid rising Russian and Ukrainian attacks on merchant ships, Bloomberg reported. Some vessels heading to Russia’s Novorossiysk and Ukraine are facing delays in securing transit permits through the Dardanelles Strait.

The Economic Times · Aug 8

How controlling (and tolling) a narrow waterway near ancient Troy changed history

Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey officially opened in theatres this week. It retells Homer’s ancient epic of Odysseus’ journey home from the Trojan war.

The Conversation · Jul 16

Iran seeks long-term role in managing Strait of Hormuz, eyes billions in annual fees

Iran is proposing new charges for security and services in the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to generate significant revenue and reshape its management post-conflict. Tehran is seeking regional backing, drawing parallels to Turkey's Dardanelles model. However, the US vehemently opposes this, asserting no nation can charge for international waterways. While…

The Economic Times · Jun 25

Erdogan opens huge suspension bridge linking Europe and Asia

President Tayyip Erdogan opened a massive suspension bridge across Turkey's Dardanelles Strait on Friday, the latest in a series of major infrastructure projects which he has prioritised during his two decades in power.

Reuters · Mar 18, 2022

Turkey-Russia ties at risk? Ankara dubs Ukraine invasion 'war' in shift of rhetoric

In this edition, we look at how the Middle East is being affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Turkey is being forced to take sides as two of its major partners go to war. Ankara has announced it's limiting a key route for Russian warships by sealing off the Bosphorus…

France 24 · Mar 3, 2022

Turkey Says Russia Cancelled Black Sea Passage Bid

Russia cancelled a bid to send four of its warships through Turkish waters into the Black Sea at Turkey's request, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, adding the decision was made before Ankara closed the straits over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. NATO ally Turkey borders Ukraine and Russia in the Black…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 2, 2022

Turkey Moves to Restrict Entrance to Black Sea

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted on Monday his country “won’t give up” on its relations with either Russia or Ukraine, but says it will implement an international convention that allows Turkey to shut down the straits at the entrance of the Black Sea to the warships of “belligerent countries.”…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 28, 2022

Turkey, Overseeing Passage to Black Sea, Calls Russian Invasion ‘War’

Turkey called Russia's invasion of Ukraine a "war" on Sunday in a rhetorical shift that could pave the way for the NATO member nation to enact an international pact limiting Russian naval passage to the Black Sea. Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has control over the Dardanelles and Bosphorus…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 27, 2022

Turkey Has Not Notified Russia of Straits Closure

Russia has received no official notification from Turkey on the closure of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian warships, the Interfax news agency quoted the Russian embassy in Turkey as saying. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said earlier that Turkey had made such a move. Turkey, which controls the straits…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 26, 2022

Turkey has not notified Russia of straits closure -Ifax

Russia has received no official notification from Turkey on the closure of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian warships, the Interfax news agency quoted the Russian embassy in Turkey as saying.

Reuters · Feb 26, 2022