Montreux Convention Limits NATO's Naval Presence in Black Sea Amid Ukraine Conflict
The Montreux Convention, a 90-year-old treaty, continues to shape the balance of power in the Black Sea, particularly as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia persists. The treaty, signed in 1936, grants Turkey control over the Dardanelles and Bosporus Straits, allowing it to regulate the passage of naval ships. This has limited NATO's ability to maintain a continuous naval presence in the Black Sea, as the treaty imposes restrictions on non-Black Sea states regarding the size, tonnage, and duration of their naval deployments. The convention has been crucial in preventing further escalation in the region by restricting the movement of Russian and Ukrainian warships. 
