Beholden.

This is coolbert:

"The mercenaries are not actually Turkish, although they are supplied by Turkey. They are Syrians, Turkish-allied proxy militias, remnants from the Syrian Civil War. While in May 2024 there have been several articles about the arrival of these Syrian mercenaries in Niger . . . [it is] reported that up to 3,500 fighters from the Turkish-controlled Sultan Murad Division in Northern Syria would eventually be sent to Niger."

If this don't beat all! Not only Russians in the Sahel region of Africa. The Turk too? SADAT PMC? Turkish mercenaries!

"Turkey's Syrian Mercenaries Come To The Sahel In Africa"

May 17, 2024 | By Amb. Alberto M. Fernandez* [VP MEMRI]  https://tinyurl.com/y3uhufp3

"Long a sinecure [?] of former colonial powers, large parts of Africa have in recent years become a wide-open marketplace for new foreign players. While much of the focus – and hysteria – in the West has been about the resurgence of China and Russia in Africa, there is also a raft of ambitious middle or rising powers – Turkey, UAE, India, Israel, Egypt, Brazil – looking forward to project either economic or military or political power onto the continent."

Turkish mercenaries but nary a Turk in sight? Syrian Arabs a proxy force of the Turk as aligned against Assad the Syrian dictator feeling obligated and greatly indebted to Angora and the Sultan.

Great is the mineral wealth of the Sahel? That is what is in question here?

See further an entire War on the Rocks article devoted to SADAT PMC!  https://tinyurl.com/2t2j6jtd

coolbert.

TNT.

This is coolbert:

 “'Turkish supplies of trinitrotoluene, known as TNT, and nitroguanidine, which is used as a propellant, would be crucial in the production of Nato-standard 155mm caliber ammunition — potentially tripling production, according to officials familiar with the discussions,' . . . 'Turkey is already on track to becoming the biggest seller of the artillery shells to the US as early as this year.'”

The arsenal of democracy [USA]no longer the arsenal it once was!

Replenishment of American stockpiles 155 mm artillery rounds only to be accomplished with the acquiescence of the Turk?

"Turkey Expected To Become US' Largest Supplier Of Artillery"

Authored by Ahmed Adel via GlobalResearch.ca | the tip from Zero Hedge | APR 02, 2024.

"Turkey is set to become the United States’ largest supplier of artillery shells as NATO allies have exhausted their stocks and now struggle to ship ammunition to Ukraine. Turkey’s indirect support for Ukraine is also supplemented by direct support, such as producing drones and warships, yet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offers himself as a viable partner in searching for peace between Ukraine and Russia."

NOT I think FINISHED and ready-to-go artillery rounds. Rather the EXPLOSIVE [TNT] and the artillery round PROPELLENT material.

coolbert.

Unwavering.

This is coolbert:

More on the British minesweepers that have been donated to the Ukrainian. Passage through the Hellespont/Dardanelles/Bosphorus denied!

“Our relevant allies have been informed that the mine hunting ships donated to Ukraine by the United Kingdom will not be allowed to pass through the Turkish Straits to the Black Sea as long as the war continues,” - the Turkish presidency’s communications directorate.

"NATO state won't let UK send minesweepers to Ukraine"

"Citing international law, Türkiye has said it will block the vessels from entering the Black Sea"

From https://www.rt.com/news |  2 Jan, 2024.

As a strong as suspected, this all has to do with the Montreux treaty convention of 1936!

"The Turkish government said on Tuesday that it will not allow minesweeping vessels that the UK has pledged to donate to Ukraine to enter the Black Sea. Ankara, which controls the straits linking the Black Sea with the Mediterranean, shut down access to foreign warships when the conflict in Ukraine began in 2022."

"British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps announced last month that the UK would hand over two Royal Navy mine-hunting ships to Ukraine. Shapps claimed that by clearing Russian mines, the craft would make it easier for Ukraine to conduct naval operations against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, while clearing export routes to bolster the country’s battered economy."

[....]

"Türkiye 'has been implementing the Montreux Convention impartially and meticulously since 1936,' the statement continued, adding that it will maintain this 'unwavering determination and principled attitude throughout this war.'”

The only alternative at this point is for Bulgaria and Romania to donate their own minesweepers to Ukrainian?

coolbert.

Blocked.

This is coolbert:

NATO versus NATO? The ancient waterway of the Hellespont/Dardanelles/Bosphorus a naval blocking chokepoint.

"Turkey blocks Royal Navy ships sent to Ukraine as NATO falls apart"

From Express UK ^ | January 2, 2024 | Hannah Kane, Liam Doyle.

"Turkey has vowed to block two British Royal Navy ships intended for Ukraine to pass through its waters. Last month, Britain said it would transfer the two minehunter ships to the Ukrainian navy to help bolster its sea operations in its war with Russia. However, the Turkish presidency's communications directorate has now said it will not let the vessels through its Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits."

This is an issue of the Montreaux Convention of 1938? British mine hunting/clearing war ships as intended for delivery to the Ukrainian being barred from entry into the Black Sea

According to the Montreux Convention of 1938 military vessels of nations without a border on the Black Sea, can remain within the confines of the Black Sea for a maximum of 21 days. Barely transferring the ships to Ukrainian naval control does not meet the exacting requirements of the Montreux Convention?

The NATO nations of Bulgaria and Romania can indeed transfer vessels that are mine hunting/clearing war ships to the Ukrainian, and do so in a legal manner not contravening the Montreaux Convention of 1938? Of this I am not sure.

coolbert.

Stormers.

This is coolbert:

"Turkish protesters try to storm airbase housing US troops | Al Jazeera Newsfeed"

From You Tube via "Al Jazeera English".

#Aljazeeraenglish #News:

"Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters who tried to storm an airbase housing US forces in Turkey"

Doesn't look to me that they mob tried to storm the airbase. Seems they did breach the perimeter of the airbase and did so quite easily. Mob was dispersed and American air force thankfully so not threatened.

Hopefully those American nuclear munitions REMOVED from Incirlik and some time ago!!

See applicable previous blog entry with many additional links the topic Incirlik:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/10/ws3-b-61.html

coolbert.

Gaziantep.

This is coolbert:

Great calamity Turkey. Earthquakes of powerful magnitude causing massive damage and death.

As for the military dimension to the disaster.

"Gaziantep Castle collapses after magnitude 7.7 quake hit Türkiye"

BY "DAILY SABAH"  ISTANBUL FEB 06, 2023 - EDITED BY BUSE KESKIN. All thanks to "Daily" including the video.

"Gaziantep Castle (Turkish: Gaziantep Kalesi) is a castle on top of a mound in the center of Gaziantep, Turkey. First used as an observation point during the Hittite Empire, it was expanded into a castle during the Roman Empire. The castle was severely damaged by the earthquakes in February 2023."

"The hilltop was first used as an observation point by the Hittite Empire. It was later expanded into a main castle by the Roman Empire in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. It underwent further expansion and renovation under Emperor Justinian I between AD 527 and 565. The circumference of the round shaped castle is 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). The walls are built of stone and the castle has 12 bastions."

"The castle has been renovated numerous times. It saw changes made during the reign of the Ayyubids in the 12th and 13th centuries, as well as the Ottoman Empire, and played an important role during the War of Independence of the early 20th century."

"Video showing damage to the castle and the nearby Şirvani Mosque on the day of the 2023 earthquake"

"On 6 February 2023, the castle was severely damaged by two consecutive earthquakes. Some of the eastern and southern bastions collapsed, and iron railings and walls around the castle were seriously damaged."

Comments:

* Used since the time of the Hittites. That is around 1500 B.C.E.

* Architects and master builders of yore knowing full well the commonplace occurrence of earthquakes in the area were accustomed to waiting as long as two years after a foundation having been laid down before commencing construction of any sort of further massive structure.

coolbert.

Azerbaijani II.

This is coolbert:

More Azerbaijani the Ukraine Conflict? Distinct combat arms elements not just code talkers?

Embedded with the Ukrainian army or maybe forming their own national or ethnic contingent?

From the twitter account of: "UkraineMaps" and thanks to same.

These are Grey Wolves? Persons of Turkic ethnicity interventionists in the Ukraine Conflict? Grey Wolves quite willing and able to use force beyond the borders of Turkey proper not hesitating to do so.

"Up to thousands of its members fought in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War on the Azerbaijani side, and the First and Second Chechen–Russian Wars on the Chechen side. After an unsuccessful attempt to seize power in Azerbaijan in 1995 After an unsuccessful attempt to seize power in Azerbaijan in 1995, they were banned in that country."

GREY WOLVES DEDICATED HEAD-KNOCKER FANATICS NOT GOING TO GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT.

See previous blog entries confirmed and speculated the connection of the Grey Wolves to the Ukraine Conflict:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/01/ates.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/02/codetalker.html

coolbert.

Ateş.

This is coolbert:

From the Internet web site  https://intelnews.org/  and thanks to same!

Somewhere here is a connection to the NATO Cold-War era Gladio organization?

"Analysis: A murky assassination that could radically alter Turkish politics"

JANUARY 30, 2023 BY JOSEPH FITSANAKIS.

"ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2022, an assailant on a motorcycle opened fire on Sinan Ateş, the leader of Turkey’s most feared paramilitary force, known as the Grey Wolves. By that evening, the 38-year-old Ateş had expired in an Ankara hospital, prompting analysts to forewarn that Turkish politics had entered new and unchartered territory. Indeed, some observers claim that Ateş’ assassination may impact Turkey’s upcoming presidential elections in unpredictable ways."

Grey Wolves acknowledged as that Turkish component of NATO Gladio. Personnel organized, trained and equipped well in advance to wage unconventional warfare against the Soviet invader in case of the much feared World War Three!

See a previous blog entry [with a bunch of embedded links] that topic Gladio:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/08/reprise.html

Gladio now defunct and for some time now? Or during a time of crisis [the Ukraine Conflict] Gladio resurrected?

coolbert.

Torpedo.

This is coolbert:

Torpedo los. The Ukraine Conflict could have been ended in April?

"torpedo: verb - 2: to destroy or nullify altogether : WRECK"

"Why Did US Torpedo The April Ukraine War Negotiated Settlement?"

From TFP Editor ^ | September 10, 2022 | TFP Editor that tip from Freeper.

"Most Americans are unaware how close Russia and Ukraine came to ending the current war in April. Last March 27, Ukraine president Zelensky told his people 'Our goal is obvious – peace and the restoration of normal life in our native state as soon as possible.' He was hinting at what went unsaid: Ukraine and Russia, brokered by NATO member Turkey, reached a tentative fifteen-point peace plan to end the month old war."

Consider among those fifteen-points: [thanks to the Internet web site Red State here]

* "Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine."

* "The Ukrainian armed forces will remain intact."

* "Ukraine agrees not to join NATO."

* " Ukraine is allowed to join the EU."

* "Ukraine can enter into bilateral 'security guarantees' with other countries; there are no limits on the countries or number of countries Ukraine can deal with."

* "Foreign troops cannot be stationed in Ukraine."

* "Foreign weapons systems cannot be deployed in Ukraine."

* "The Russian language is given official status within Ukraine."

Territorial concessions Donbass too on the agenda? Perhaps a binding plebiscite would have been warranted. Sounds rather fair and rational to me.

coolbert.

Underestimating.

This is coolbert:

"'By not doing so in time or by underestimating the seriousness of the matter, we risk witnessing again a situation similar to that currently unfolding in some other part of our continent,' . . . 'This is something none of us would really wish to see.'" - Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.

Troubling. Very troubling!

"Greece Informs Allies Of Ukraine-Style War Looming With Turkey"

From www.zerohedge.com the story by TYLER DURDEN SEP 09, 2022.

"With the Queen of England's death as well as the EU energy crisis topping headlines, followed by the enduring Ukraine war, too few in the West seem to realize that a major crisis has been brewing in the Mediterranean which could see two NATO members enter a shooting war."

"Greece has taken the unprecedented step of informing NATO HQ, the EU, and UN that a Ukraine-style war is looming with Turkey. The two have long been locked in disputes over maritime rights, the status of Greece's Aegean islands, and airspace violations."

[....]

"For years, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus have been at odds over expanding Turkish oil and gas drilling rights in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey is using its occupation of northern Cyprus to say that all waters encircling the island are fair game for its research and drilling vessels. Over the last half-century there's been at least a couple of occasions where tensions where so high there were fears of a military conflict breaking out."

Maritime rights more correctly understood as Economic Exclusion Zone [EEZ] rights? Drilling for oil and natural gas deposits the eastern Mediterranean at question here. 

Even NATO partners as Greece and Turkey at odds and have been for a period of hundred years or more. Disputes never settled, historical grievances quite extreme. And when it comes to OIL and NATURAL GAS watch out everyone. Money is to be had.

coolbert.

Corridor.

This is coolbert:

We are saved after all! World hunger and mass starvation on a cataclysmic level averted!

Vital shipments of grain from Ukrainian port facilities has resumed.

Commercial vessels moving to-and-fro the Black Sea final destination world-wide.

GOOD NEWS STORY UKRAINE!

"43 ships have already passed through "grain corridor" - Turkish Ministry of Defense"

From censor.net/en/news ^ | 18.08.22 | Staff | tip from Freeper.

"43 ships have already passed through 'grain corridor' - Turkish Ministry of Defense News Censor.NET War in Ukraine. Since August 1, 43 ships have passed through the 'grain corridors': 25 of them left Ukrainian ports, 18 - entered. A total of 622 thousand tons of grain have been exported. This was reported by the Ministry of National Defense of Turkey, reports Censor.NЕТ with reference to Ukrinform. 'Since August 1, 43 ships have departed, 25 of which have left Ukrainian ports. For shipment of grain 18 vessels entered Ukrainian ports.'"

Let us hope the "grain corridors" hold and negative interference the shipments. Alleviate the threat of world hunger and food shortages and prevent calamity potentially of an epic scale.

coolbert.

Cezve.

This is coolbert:

To war with coffee! The Ukrainian Conflict.

Stimulation for sentries and those on guard duty and having been deprived of sleep!

"The High-Octane Coffee Fueling Ukraine’s Front Line Forces"

From atlasobscurea.com the article by KRIS PARKER JULY 7, 2022.

"The bitter, strong 'Ukrainer' provides caffeine and a moment of calm."

[....] 

"Granovskiy is one of Ukraine’s leading experts of the cezve, or ibrik, brewing method. Commonly called 'Turkish' or 'Eastern' coffee, the technique utilizes a long-handled pot, which is called a cezve, to brew finely ground coffee beans in water over a flame without a filter. The grounds are left in the cup when served, and the result is a strong cup of coffee. The brewing method is popular throughout regions of the former Ottoman Empire and its periphery."

"Turkish coffee being poured from a copper cezve. A cezve . . . is a small long-handled pot with a pouring lip designed specifically to make Turkish coffee. It is traditionally made of brass or copper, occasionally also silver or gold. In more recent times cezveler are also made from stainless steel, aluminum, or ceramics."

YES indeed. Coffee brewed in this manner was a favorite of the Janissary soldier of the Ottoman Empire. Stay awake and alert while on sentry duty and you will not lose your head or have your throat cut.

coolbert.

Yazici.

This is coolbert:

Yet one more instance of a senior military man of flag rank [general or admiral] taking a reduction in rank solely for the privilege of commanding troops in combat.

Tahsin Yazıcı. Commander of the Turkish Brigade the Korean War.

"He commanded the Turkish Brigade during the Korean War. His brigade saved Americans in Battle of Kunuri. Though it was initially placed as a reserve for the U.S. 8th Army, the collapse of the front in the face of massive Chinese attacks on 26 November 1950 meant that it soon found itself in the thick of battle."

General Yazici a one-star general officer accepting quite willingly a reduction in rank to that of Colonel in command of a brigade. General Yazici a veteran of Gallipoli during the Great War [WW1].

Hardly can we forget too and worth a mention the Frenchman Ralph Monclar. Commanded the French battalion during the Korean War. General Monclar taking a marked reduction in rank from three-star general to that of Lieutenant Colonel again for the purpose and privilege of commanding a battalion in Coree'.

"Raoul Charles Magrin-Vernerey, who in World War II shortened his name to Ralph Monclar"

"Their leader [French battalion in Korea] was a battle-scarred veteran of the Legion who led them in battle wearing his monocle, a beret, a bright red scarf–and using a cane to compensate for his limp. Sixty-year-old Raoul Monclar, as he called himself, had given up his three-star general’s rank and his true name of Magrin-Venery and had reverted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, since general was too high a rank for a battalion"

General Monclar wounded seven times from combat the Great War and being 90 % disabled. Fought with the Free French in World War Two and finally in Korea.

Cane when carried for disability and additionally symbolic of the sword that was wielded by the military knight and gentleman-at-arms of yore!

These men we can respect for their willingness to enter the fray without regard to their senior position. Admirable!

coolbert.

 

Clearing.

This is coolbert:

The Royal Dutch navy to the rescue? The Ukraine Conflict. The Dutch?

NATO minesweeping vessels the contribution to the proposed Black Sea corridor whereby Ukrainian grain can be shipped in an expedited manner to world markets. Worldwide hunger averted.

From Commander Salamander | June 30, 2022 original story "De Telegraaf".

"The Netherlands is Game for the Black Sea Grain Escort Mission"

"The Netherlands has offered mine hunters to clear the way for grain ships from Ukraine. 'If we can play a role, we are happy to do so,' Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said at the NATO summit in Madrid."

"The Netherlands has offered Turkey, which mediates in the matter, help to clear the sea mines on the shipping routes. Then Russia and Ukraine will have to agree on a so-called maritime corridor, emphasizes Ollongren. Neighboring NATO member states such as Romania and Bulgaria are also in principle more eligible to supply minehunters, insiders say."

NATO naval escort convoy the Black Sea would have to be predominantly comprised of Romanian and Bulgarian minesweepers? Turkish warships also can be part of the mix? Dutch naval vessels on the Black Sea according to the Montreux Convention only a limited number allowed at any given moment and then any individual vessel for a maximum of twenty-one days.

Sounds like a very good idea. Let the diplomats work the details out. The devil is always in the details you know. Those diplomats better get-a-going with negotiations and fast too. Going to be a lot of hungry mouths around the world otherwise.

coolbert.

Formality.

This is coolbert:

Finland and Sweden have NOW resolved to JOIN NATO. And SOONER than LATER.

But with one glitch!

"glitch: noun - 1a: a usually minor malfunction b: a minor problem that causes a temporary setback" 

1. "Finland, Sweden to meet with Turkey over NATO"

5/15/2022, 11:41:28 AM · by Kaslin · 30 replies

First from Hot Air .com ^ | May 15, 2022 | JAZZ SHAW the tip from Freeper.

"We were told to expect a decision 'within days' as to Finland applying for membership in NATO, triggering a threatening response from the Kremlin. That estimate proved to be true. This morning, the President and Prime Minister of Finland held a joint news conference where they announced that Finland’s formal application to join the alliance will be submitted this week following a vote in Parliament that is being described as 'a formality.'"

BUT WITH CONDITIONS.

2. "NATO: Turkey outlines demands on Finland and Sweden membership"

From Deutsche Welle ^ "German Voice" 5/15/2022. Again the tip from Freeper.

"Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday outlined demands for Finland and Sweden which seek membership in NATO in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Speaking with Turkish reporters after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin, he said that Sweden and Finland must stop supporting terrorists in their countries, provide clear security guarantees and lift export bans on Turkey"

NEW MEMBERSHIP IN NATO IS SUBJECT TO UNANIMOUS VOTE OF ALL CONSTITUENT MEMBERS? THIS I WAS NOT AWARE OF.

coolbert.

SCUBA.

This is coolbert:

"Look, don't touch!"

From the Internet web site divescover.com an article concerning SCUBA diving opportunities the Gallipoli area, military warships as sunk during the WW1 campaign.

Diving in Gallipoli.

"Scuba And Diving Around of the Gallipoli Peninsula offers you the amazing opportunity to dive through the history of the WWI."

"The Gallipoli campaign commenced on 18 March 1915 when the British navy sought to attack Istanbul via the Çanakkale Strait. When their attempt to get through the strait failed, a joint offensive by British, French and Italian fleets was launched on 25 April 1915. Thousands of troops were landed on the peninsula of Gallipoli. But the unexpected Turkish resistance and the military skills of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led to the failure of this campaign and the Allies withdrew from Gallipoli on 9 January 1916. Over that period several hundreds ships and boats sunk in the coastal waters between Anzac Cove and Suvla Bay on the western side of the peninsula. These included several war ships, landing craft, and lighters carrying troops and provisions."

"Today the locations of 216 of these wrecks have been identified, the most important being the British warships Irresistible, Triumph, Ocean, Majestic and Goliath and the French Bouvet. Normally the boat ride takes just 20 minutes to an hour to reach the diving areas, so that two dives can be completed in a day."

Diving on sunken warships seems to be a popular activity for the amateur diver who desires some excitement beyond the norm and seems to be an OK pastime if you follow the rule "look, don't touch". SCUBA diving of this nature you can well understand not confined to merely the Gallipoli are. 

In the years to come expect the wreck of the Russian warship Moskva to become a popular dive site. Depending on the salvage operation as evidently being currently carried out the Moskva is in shallow enough water [fifty meters/one-hundred fifty feet] of water as to be accessible to the amateur enthusiast.

Diving on the Moskva also might be possible only with the sufferance and prior permission of the Russian. 

Sunken warships with military personnel their remains inside the vessel not recovered of course a war graves site to which special protection status conferred. All proper deference must be maintained at all times. And should be.

coolbert.

Purposefully.

This is coolbert:

“'We have doubts as to whether the mines were left intentionally,'. . . 'Maybe these mines were left within a plan for NATO minesweepers to enter the Black Sea.'” - - Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

From Russian controlled [?] Internet media outlet    and thanks to same.

Floating mines Black Sea again. As was the topic of a previous blog entry.

"Turkey suspects conspiracy behind Black Sea mines"

"The defense chief [Turkey] reportedly suggested explosives may have been deployed intentionally to justify sending in NATO minesweepers"

[....]

"Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has reportedly raised the possibility that mines discovered off his country’s coast were purposely deployed in the Black Sea as a pretext for sending NATO minesweepers to the region amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict."

"The aim of this type of scheme might be to pressure Ankara into allowing NATO warships to enter the Black Sea through the Turkish Straits, Akar said. He insisted that Ankara will abide by the Montreux Convention, which allows Turkey to regulate maritime traffic through the straits during times of war."

Floating naval sea mines in the aftermath of the Ukraine Conflict will indeed need to be cleared to allow 100 % free and unfettered access to all commercial shipping entering/leaving Black Sea ports. Crucial and for some vital shipments of grain to the international market just cannot be curtailed. And that WILL BE I suspect a major task to clear the sea mines in totality. Insurance prices even when the preponderance of the mines swept expect a marked increase. Willing commercial vessel crews also I might presume going to be fewer in number.

coolbert.

Negligence.

This is coolbert:

So is it the Russian? Or is it the Ukrainian? Or a combination of both?

Naval activity the Black Sea during the ongoing Ukraine Conflcit confining merchant vessels from sailing with precious food stuffs cargo for the international market. 

THIS HAS NOW BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A PROBLEM WITH A POSSIBILITY OF WORLD-WIDE CALAMITY!

See as extracted from a tweet of the AZmilitary1 Twitter account the protestions of a Turkish admiral. [click on image to see an enlarged view. AZmilitary1 obviously a pro-Russian Twitter account]

"Drifting mines". "Negligent actions". Etc. "Not us", say the Russians. "Not us" say the Ukrainian.

UNMISTAKABLY SO CONTROL OF THE BLACK SEA AND THE LONG-TERM FREE MOVEMENT OF COMMERCIAL SHIPPING IN/OUT OF HARBORS SUCH AS ODESSA HIGH ON THE AGENDA OF VLAD VIS-A-VIS THE UKRAINE CONFLICT. EXPORTS OF UKRAINIAN GRAIN TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS STIFFLED, FUTURE TRANSPORT DONE ONLY WITH THE SUFFERANCE OF THE RUSSIAN!

See previous blog entries as pertinent:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/04/departure.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/04/azburg.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/03/disruption.html

coolbert.

Based.

This is coolbert:

I think I understand this. But not fully 100 % so.

"Why Russia faces a growing threat to its navy off Ukraine"

From the Washington Examiner the article by Brent D. Sadler  | March 30, 2022.

"Russia hadn’t lost a warship to an attack since World War II. Until last week."

"On Thursday, the Ukrainian navy announced it destroyed a Russian amphibious warship, the Saratov, that was conducting resupply missions in the Ukrainian port of Berdyansk. While the details are fuzzy, it's yet more proof that Russia’s war in Ukraine isn't going well."

"Following the invasion, Turkey invoked the 1936 Montreux Convention and denied entry to all foreign warships not previously based in the Black Sea. What’s there now, and perhaps what Russia can bring by canal from the Caspian Sea, is all the navy Russia will have for this war. Before the invasion, Russia moved warships from around the world to bolster its combat power near Ukraine. In total, 12 large surface and nine amphibious warships massed in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on Ukraine’s southern coast."

Not "previously based in the Black Sea" means that a portion [how extensive is the question] of the Russian naval contingent currently sailing the Mediterranean will not be allowed to sail through the Bosphorus/Dardanelles/Hellespont during the Ukraine Conflict under any circumstances. Significant Russian naval combat power cannot be brought to bear as might be needed.

See previous blog entries that topic the Russian naval forces Mediterranean:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/02/steaming.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/02/blog-post.html

coolbert.

SADAT.

This is coolbert:

Mercenaries I. Turkish style!

Never heard of these guys before. Turkish private military contractor [PMC]. SADAT. And not Anwar of Egypt.

From a variety of sources and thanks to one and all. Courtesy the tip from the Internet web site Strategy Page.

1. "Erdogan’s shadow army: The influence of SADAT, Turkey's private defense group"

"Turkey’s SADAT defense group is heavily involved in Ankara’s training of Syrian Sunni rebels for the fight against Assad."

2. "SADAT: Turkey’s Paramilitary Wings Take Flight In Africa"

"SADAT Inc. International Defense Consultancy is a Turkish private security contractor, founded by former Gen. Adnan Tanrıverdiin in 2012. Tanrıverdi had been forced into retirement in 1996, due to Islamist affiliations. Reports allege that SADAT is present in Syria and Iraq, in the form of paramilitary troops, training, and military ordnance procurement. There is a close relationship between SADAT and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan."

Private Military Contractors as they are referred to rather a growth business. Think Sandline, Executive Outcomes, Blackwater, Wagner Group, etc.

The Turk has one also. And beholden in large measure to President Erdogan.

coolbert.