Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Turkish Straits

NATO boosts Black Sea presence amid Ukraine crisis

NATO has visibly increased its presence and military activities in the Black Sea in a bid to display deterrence toward Russia, in the wake of the ongoing Ukraine crisis and after a shift in Turkey’s strict implementation of the Montreux Convention that regulates the passage of non-literal countries’ military vessels from the straits.

'No More' US Warships in Black Sea - Russian Navy

All US warships that were previously deployed to the Black Sea have now left its basin, the Russian Navy's General Staff has announced.

The destroyer USS Taylor was reported by Interfax agency to be in the Mediterranean on Monday after its 21-day-long stay in the Black Sea allowed by the Montreux Convention setting a three-week time limit for foreign vessels.

US Increases Military Presence in CEE, Black Sea

The USA will send around 600 troops to Poland and the Baltic States for infantry exercises, said the Pentagon. 

According to Rear Admiral John Kirby, this is in response to Russia's incursion into Ukraine.

The first contingent of 150 soldiers from the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Italy, will arrive in Poland on Wednesday to conduct infantry exercises. 

US, French Ships 'Passed Black Sea Straits', Did Not Inform of Route

Two vessels one from the US and another from France, passed through the Dardanelles strait early on Thursday without informing of their destination.

The announcement by Turkish authorities quoted by the website of Daily Sabah adds up to earlier reports that only the destroyer USS Donald Cook passed through the Black Sea Straits.