Historical background and consequences of the kanal Istanbul construction

Abstract

The security and stability of the Black Sea Region is vital for the interests of Russia. The current status of the Black Sea Straits, which is regulated by the 1936 Montreux Convention, generally ensures this security. A destabilizing factor for the region may become Turkey’s desire to strengthen control over the Straits and the construction of an alternative channel, which will be under Turkish jurisdiction and which will not be subject to the Montreux Convention. The construction of the Kanal Istanbul in the context of global instability and the existence of serious contradictions between Western countries and Russia can lead to an imbalance of forces in the Black Sea region. In this regard, this article provides a brief historical overview of how Russia has defended its vital interests in this region over the centuries, as well as how the control over the passage from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean by the different actors was influencing the balance of power in the region. In addition, for a better understanding of the military, political, economic, and ecological consequences of the construction of the Kanal Istanbul the article analyzes the current situation around this project using a matrix of interests. Consequently, by studying the historical and modern processes taking place in the Black Sea region, and also considering the importance of this region for the security and economic well-being of Russia, the author came to the conclusion that the future status of the Kanal Istanbul should be included in the Russian-Turkish agenda.