Russia not to tolerate permanent naval presence of non-riparian states in Black Sea: presidential aide

MOSCOW, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) — Russia will not tolerate the permanent presence of non-Black Sea naval forces in the region, said Nikolai Patrushev, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin and chair of the Maritime Collegium, on Monday.
“The West must clearly understand that Russia remains firm in its stance on the Black Sea, and we will not allow our position in the region to be weakened,” Patrushev told local media.
He warned that Moscow will not tolerate the permanent naval presence of non-riparian states in the region in violation of the Montreux Convention.
Patrushev said that Russia maintains its position “as one of the world’s leading naval powers” with the country’s fleet confidently carrying out all its duties, primarily nuclear deterrence.
He recalled that not long ago, two Russian strategic submarines completed an under-ice journey of over 4,000 nautical miles from the Northern Fleet to the Pacific Fleet.
“Such operations are particularly significant in the context of the revision of the national nuclear doctrine,” Patrushev noted.
Under the Montreux Convention signed in 1936, naval vessels of non-riparian countries must notify Turkey in advance about their passage through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles straits, which connect the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. The treaty limits their stay in the Black Sea to 21 days and grants Turkey permission to cut off transit of military vessels during wartime, except for those that return to their bases. ■