U.S. Prepares To Sail Warship Into Black Sea, Citing Kerch Strait Incident…(Prepare For A War…)
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.com
Wed, 12/05/2018
The potential for major escalation in the Black Sea between the United States and Russia just grew significantly hotter as the US military has formally notified Turkey that it plans to sail a warship into the Black Sea for the first time in a month.
US defense officials have told CNN that the request is specifically in response to Russia’s actions against Ukraine during the Nov. 25 Kerch Strait incident.
According to a CNN exclusive Wednesday afternoon:
The US has begun making the necessary preparations to sail a warship into the Black Sea, a move that comes amid heightened tensions in the region following Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian ships and detention of Ukrainian sailors.
The US military has requested that the State Department notify Turkey of its possible plans to sail a warship into the Black Sea, three US officials tell CNN, a move they said is a response to Russia’s actions against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
The military has made the request as required under the Montreux Convention — the 1936 agreement which gave Turkey control over the Bosporus Straits and the Dardanelles, including authority to regulate the transit of naval warships.
A State Department spokesman told CNN, “the United States carries out its activities consistent with the terms of the Montreux Convention. We will not, however, comment on the nature of our diplomatic correspondence with the Government of Turkey.” There was no early indication whether Turkey granted the passage, which could be interesting given recent closer relations between Ankara and Moscow.
But two among CNN source’s cautioned that giving Turkey notification would merely provide the Navy “the option” of moving a warship into the area, suggesting that no battleships have necessarily yet to be deployed.
The military has made the request as required under the Montreux Convention — the 1936 agreement which gave Turkey control over the Bosporus Straits and the Dardanelles, including authority to regulate the transit of naval warships.
A State Department spokesman told CNN, “the United States carries out its activities consistent with the terms of the Montreux Convention. We will not, however, comment on the nature of our diplomatic correspondence with the Government of Turkey.” There was no early indication whether Turkey granted the passage, which could be interesting given recent closer relations between Ankara and Moscow.
But two among CNN source’s cautioned that giving Turkey notification would merely provide the Navy “the option” of moving a warship into the area, suggesting that no battleships have necessarily yet to be deployed.
The Rest…HERE
