Turkey’s Black Sea Predicament: Challenging or Accommodating Russia?

Authors : Mitat ÇELİKPALA, Emre ERŞEN

Pages : 72-92

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Publication Date : 2018-10-07

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This article seeks to explore the development  of the new security environment in the  Black Sea and its implications for the  future of regional dialogue  between Turkey  and Russia. The radically altered strategic  balance in the Black Sea after the Russian- Georgian war in 2008 and Russia’s  annexation of  Crimea in 2014 have  urged Turkish policymakers to revise their  traditional policies toward this region.  Yet Ankara currently faces four main  challenges in this quest: i); maintaining  the status quo established by the Montreux  Convention, ii); protecting its interests  vis-à-vis Russia’s strengthened military  presence in the Black Sea, iii); dealing with  the significant security implications of the  three Russian anti-access/area denial  insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(A2/AD); spheres built around Turkish territories, 4); accommodating the diverse  Black Sea policies of its NATO allies  without alienating Russia. 
Keywords : Turkey, Russia, Black Sea, Caucasus, NATO, Montreux Convention, Jet Crisis