The development of The Turkish Straits Issue (The Bosporus and The Dardanelles)

Abstract

The Turkish straits, the Bosporus and the Dardanelles, are among the busiest maritime passages. Although they are internal passages, meaning they are the only route to the Black Sea, they play an important role in international transport. Consequently, countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Georgia that border the Black Sea have no access to open seas except through them. Traffic in the Bosphorus and Dardanelles has significantly increased after the signing of the Montreux Convention. The Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits have been of great importance throughout history, as they mark the meeting point of European and Asian lands. The Bosporus Strait is a natural strait located in northwestern Turkey, connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and is also known as the Istanbul Strait. This waterway also links the European side of the city to the Asian side. As for the Dardanelles Strait, it connects the Aegean and Marmara Seas and is considered one of the strategic passages on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. International disputes have arisen over it, and nations have fought throughout history to cross it, attempting to control it due to its significant geographical location, which has made it a target for many countries to achieve their interests.