Russia slams NATO’s Black Sea strategy, claiming West wants to alter Montreux Convention

Russian officials voiced concerns over perceived NATO expansion efforts in the Black Sea region, with top leaders calling recent Western maneuvers a strategic attempt to diminish Moscow’s influence as a maritime power in the area.

Nikolai Patrushev, the Secretary of Russia’s Security Council and head of the country’s Maritime Board, claimed the United States and its NATO allies are working to gain access to the Black Sea via the Danube River, exploiting Europe’s internal waterways for military purposes.

Speaking at a shipbuilding conference in Crimea, Patrushev said, “NATO is devising plans to extend its maritime presence in the Black Sea, aiming to alter the Montreux Convention regime that governs Black Sea straits and to use European inland waterways to access the region through the Danube.”

According to Patrushev, these actions fall in line with what he described as a Western agenda to deliver a “strategic defeat” to Russia. He asserted that reducing Russia’s status as a maritime force in the Black Sea aligns with broader Western aims against Moscow’s strategic interests.

Under Russia’s Maritime Doctrine, Patrushev noted, the Black and Azov Seas are regarded as critical for safeguarding Russian national interests within the global ocean. However, he said these interests are increasingly at risk due to NATO’s intensified presence.

Patrushev also emphasized that operations at shipbuilding and repair facilities in Crimea have been hampered by Ukrainian military actions, calling for increased security to counter sabotage and terrorism threats. “It is crucial to implement additional protective measures to secure these facilities against sabotage and terror threats, ensuring strict adherence to anti-terrorist security protocols,” he stated.

The Montreux Convention remains a vital diplomatic instrument for Türkiye, enabling it to manage military access in the Black Sea and limit the influence of non-regional powers. The ongoing debate around NATO’s access and military presence in the region underscores Türkiye’s role as a stabilizing force, with officials reiterating their commitment to uphold the terms of the convention amidst mounting geopolitical pressure.