The Kanal Istanbul, an under-construction shipping route running parallel to the strategically critical Bosphorus Strait, is gaining prominence as a major divisive issue in Turkey election to be held in 2023.
What is Kanal Istanbul?
It is a new route through Istanbul connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, for creating new source of income for the country.
The planned canal will run parallel to the Bosphorus Strait, a natural waterway that separates Europe and Asia, which for centuries has served as a key outlet for Russian ships entering the Mediterranean Sea.
Since 1936, passage through the Strait has been governed by the Montreux Convention, a multilateral treaty that allows ships to go across almost free of cost during peacetime, and which tightly restricts the movement of naval vessels.
It is claimed that the new canal, will be safer and faster to navigate compared to the Bosphorus, making it a more attractive option for commercial ships.
