DOES THE MONTREUX CONVENTION INFLUENCE NATO-RUSSIAN MILITARY INTERACTIONS IN THE BLACK SEA?
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Authors
Pry, David P.
Subjects
Russia
United States
Black Sea
Baltic Sea
military
interactions
Montreux Convention
NATO
UNCLOS
INCSEA
brinkmanship
escalation
United States
Black Sea
Baltic Sea
military
interactions
Montreux Convention
NATO
UNCLOS
INCSEA
brinkmanship
escalation
Advisors
Wirtz, James J.
Date of Issue
2024-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis assesses the impact of the Montreux Convention on Russian military interactions with members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the Black Sea following Russia's annexation of Crimea. It explains how this Montreux Convention shapes maritime dynamics between NATO warships and Russian military aircraft by comparing incidents in the Baltic and Black Seas from 2014 to 2022. These incidents are a part of the Kremlin’s repetitive challenges to international norms established by agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the U.S.-Soviet Agreement on the Prevention of Incidents on and over the High Seas, which is underscored by Russia’s refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing. During the period studied, there were five interactions in the Baltic, and 10 in the Black Sea. Russian forces utilized the same methods (aircraft) and techniques (low altitude flyovers) across both seas. The study finds that the Montreux Convention’s restrictions on warships does not appear to have an overt influence on military interactions between NATO and Russia in the Black Sea. Western naval officers must understand Russia’s maritime brinkmanship as a first step in preventing escalation.
Type
Thesis
Description
Includes Supplementary Material
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.