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| The Grand Turk |
| Turkey Warns Russia it Will Blockade Bosphorus if Violence Occurs |
| 2014-03-19 |
| The threat to close the Bosphorus to Russia comes from a report by Hvylya, citing a Turkish diplomatic source. According to the source, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan yesterday spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone and warned of the consequences for conflict with Ukraine. The Hvylya source was also reported on by UNIAN. Concerns were also raised about the possible threat to ethnic Crimean Tatars in the region, citing recent murders and communications with Tatar leadership. Erdogan's call to Putin warned that if Russia invades Ukraine, and so-called 'Crimean self-defense' forces engage in violence against the Tatar minority, Turkey will be forced to close passage into the Black Sea to Russian ships. Extranational protection of ethnic minorities was originally used as pretext for the Russian invasion of Crimea. In a separate announcement, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu, said Moscow was pursing "self-willed policy" in the region and urged Russia to respect the territorial integrity of its neighboring countries. "The security of Tatars is the main strategic priority for Turkey," he remarked. "Pandora's box should not be opened. If you create a de facto situation in Ukraine, this will have a domino effect on all the countries in the Eurasia region," Davutoglu said in televised remarks made the day of the Russian implemented referendum. |
| Posted by:Uncle Phester |
| #17 Checked a few maps of European Turkey (Eastern Thrace). Black Sea coast sparsely populated, few roads and long sandy beaches. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2014-03-19 18:56 |
| #16 @15 Any anti-tank weapon should be fairly effective on a warship, presuming of course you can get close enough. The Black Seas fleet does not seem to be very large, 2 cruisers, 1 destroyer, 2 frigates, 1-2 Kilos, with the frigates and 1 cruiser in the ASW role. All except for the Kilos are over age and really only the Slava class cruiser Moskva and the 2 Kilos can be considered a credible threat against first line Nato naval forces. |
| Posted by: Chantry 2014-03-19 18:26 |
| #15 I'm not sure about the appropriateness of the platform, but: Javelin (wiki): 75 - 2500 meter effective range, 4750 max width of Strait: 700m (narrowest) - 3400m (widest) |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2014-03-19 16:04 |
| #14 Of all nations, Turkey is the leader in human right and against tyranny. This world has gone crazy... |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2014-03-19 15:17 |
| #13 They used to close the Bosphorus with a chain. IIRC the Persians crossed it with a boat-bridge. Also, IIRC, the UK tried to run the Bosphorus in WWI and got rocked, using artillery, mines also being a big part of it. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2014-03-19 14:46 |
| #12 Is Obama stupid enough, OF COURSE HE IS. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2014-03-19 14:41 |
| #11 Thanks RIV, that was about my guess. Is Obama stupid enough to accidentally fall into it here? Who the hell am I kidding, of course he is. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2014-03-19 11:35 |
| #10 I don't see Russia invading Turkey. Turks would fight back, they have a disconcerting tendency to be very tough fighters and they might make Vlad look bad. They've done it before and Vlad would be wise to consider the possibility they would do it again. Russians and Turks have been going at it for centuries. This, of course, is the one big problem with Crimea and the Black Sea. Supposedly it is the warm water port that the Russians have always coveted. But that Bosphorus choke point makes it all conditional on the good will of the Turks. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2014-03-19 11:33 |
| #9 AlanC, yes Turkey could probably close the Bosphorus with land based artillery. Of course, Russia would probably immediately invade Turkey in order to defend their "right" to access the Mediterranean. Since Turkey is a member of NATO, this would oblige the US to counterattack. Hilarity (and WW III) ensues. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2014-03-19 11:19 |
| #8 That would be nice. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2014-03-19 09:31 |
#7 From a practical/tactical perspective the Bosphorus can be closed by shore based artillery Sounds like the beginning of a popular history yet to be written, with a title like "The Guns of March 2014" |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2014-03-19 09:18 |
| #6 if crimea becomes independent and allied w Russia shouldn't kurdistan become independent and allied with whomever it wants |
| Posted by: lord garth 2014-03-19 08:41 |
| #5 From a practical/tactical perspective the Bosphorus can be closed by shore based artillery, right? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2014-03-19 07:56 |
| #4 Vlad will offer to let the Turks bomb Armenia again, and it'll all be good. (Extreme sarcasm BTW) |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2014-03-19 07:30 |
| #3 Hopefully Vlad will not take Davutoglu's comments as a "threat or personal." |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-03-19 04:54 |
| #2 Jeez. Russia won't stand for that. This could spiral out of control quickly. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2014-03-19 03:16 |
| #1 That will be a good trick to see. Methinks Turkey means it will be the USS GEORGE BUSH CVN + BG, at last check presently sailing around the Aegean, that will close the Bosphorus to the RussNav??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2014-03-19 01:26 |