The scheduled visit of French Navy's Eridan-class minehunter FS Lyre (M 648) has brought her to Saraçhane Port in Istanbul. France has not provided any information about the purpose of port visit. French naval visits to Turkish ports have increased noticeably in regularity, nevertheless, in recent months.
Montreux Convention prohibits Black Sea transit
The visit occurs while NATO’s Sea Shield 25, a multinational naval drill involving over 2,300 personnel from 12 NATO member states, is ongoing in Romania. Among the participants in the Black Sea drill, which seeks to improve naval interoperability inside the alliance, France is also included.
Though France is participating in the drill, the FS Lyre will not be participating in Black Sea operations. Turkiye has used its legal power under the Montreux Convention to seal the Çanakkale and İstanbul straits to foreign warships because of the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine. Consequently, the vessel is now not allowed entrance to the Black Sea.
Strategic Port Visit amid Regional Uncertainty
Although the specifics of FS Lyre's layover are unknown, its time and location suggest more general NATO interest in keeping a presence in the area, even outside the Black Sea. Increased port calls by French naval assets imply a modest but ongoing involvement in the area, maybe to indicate alliance unity and watch regional events.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
