Montreux Convention Turns 90: Turkey Regains Control of Vital Straits

Ninety years ago, on July 20, 1936, representatives signed the Montreux Convention in Switzerland, an international agreement that continues to govern navigation through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. The agreement replaced the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, allowing Turkey to regain military control of the straits, which had previously been a demilitarized zone. News of the signing reached Athens late that evening and was published the next day.

Celebrations erupted in Constantinople as the news spread, with ships sounding their sirens and citizens participating in enthusiastic demonstrations. The convention was more than a diplomatic success for Turkey, restoring control of a strategically vital area and removing military restrictions imposed after World War I.

The Greek perspective focused on the fate of the islands of Lemnos and Samothrace, which were within the demilitarized zone. However, assurances were given that these islands would follow the same rules as the Turkish side of the straits. The convention also marked a shift in international relations, as the League of Nations proved unable to prevent escalating conflicts elsewhere.