Turkey’s Foreign Ministry confirms US warships to pass through straits to Black Sea

As tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated, a statement from the United States came to raise the tension. “We can send warships to the Black Sea,” said an official at the US Department of Defense. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the United States would send a warship next week. Tensions that began as Russia massed troops on Ukraine’s eastern border seem unlikely to subside.

While many countries have intervened in the tensions between Kiev and Moscow in recent weeks with different explanations, a very clear and frightening statement came from the United States last night.

A senior US Defence Department official announced that the US could send warships to the Black Sea within weeks. The official, who did not want to be named, said the United States planned such a move against Russia to support Ukraine and send a message of unity.

TURKEY IN KEY POSITION DUE TO MONTREUX AGREEMENT

Stressing that the US Navy routinely patrols the Black Sea, the official said that sending warships to the Black Sea would send a message to Moscow that the United States was closely monitoring developments.

While the United States must inform Turkey exactly 14 days before sending warships to the Black Sea according to the Montreux agreement, a flash statement came from Ankara.

TURKEY: US SHIPS TO STAY UNTIL MAY 4

Reuters news agency quoted the State Department as saying the United States had briefed Turkey on the matter. In a statement, it said that two US warships would pass through the Straits and go to the Black Sea. U.S.-owned warships would remain in the Black Sea until May 4, the statement said.