Quote Originally Posted by Brenus View Post
"If that happens Turkey will close the Straits for Russian ships and it would endanger the supply problems for Russian forces in Syria." Really? How Turkey would implement this? Shooting at Russian navy when, well, it is still not a war?
As aggressor, Turkey wouldn't be able to ask for help (we speak here of Turkish Forces invading Syria, Syria having a defence agreement wit Russia).
First of all Turkey can issue to Russian ship a prohibition to pass through. If Russian ships nevertheless try to enter Bosphorus, Turkish ships from the three basis in and around the Sea of Marmara may use against Russia the same tactics Russia used while overrunning the Crimea: blocking the way of entrance with the ships. No shooting first and no aggressor status. And it would be not violating the Montreux convention:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montre...of_the_Straits

Turkey was authorised to close the Straits to all foreign warships in wartime or when it was threatened by aggression; additionally, it was authorised to refuse transit from merchant ships belonging to countries at war with Turkey.