“Istanbul Canal”: the megaproject to which Erdogan clings and challenges the region

ISTANBUL.- The President of turkey, Recep Tayyip ErdoğanHe continues to dream of a project that he even considers “crazy”, and wants to achieve it despite the refusal of the opposition, the environment and even Russia. It is the construction of a gigantic canal parallel to the Strait of Bosphorus in Istanbul.

“Like it or not, we’re going to start building this chain.”the president, who has reigned in the country since 2003, told his critics in April.

Opponents say the project will lead Turkey to a ecological disaster, in addition to unnecessary debt.

the “Istanbul Canal” It represents a geopolitical shift that is altering the Kremlin, as it fears NATO allies will use this route to deploy warships in the Black Sea, its historic backyard.

The construction of the canal is part of his “crazy” infrastructure projects, “represents the culmination” of his political career and would make him the “president who reshaped Istanbul, the beating heart of Turkey,” he said. he declares. Anthony skinner, member of the consultancy firm Versik Maplecroft.

Turning your lofty dream into reality is expensive. A study carried out in 2019 estimated that the budget for this 45-kilometer-long canal is 75,000 million Turkish liras (approximately $ 13,000 million at that year’s exchange rate). When there are only a few months left before the start of its construction – it was scheduled for june– the financing of the project has not yet been defined.

“The main reason for Erdogan is money, money and always money,” he said. Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, one of the main detractors of the project. The official said the land bordering the future canal had been donated to Erdogan’s support in the construction and real estate sectors.

The alarms were raised in Russia to the information, since the channel represents a new access of navigation for its adversaries in the NATO in the Black Sea, a strategic space, especially after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

According to Montreux Convention, which governs navigation in the Bosphorus Strait, the only natural access route to the Black Sea, non-coastal countries must prevent the passage of their ships in advance, which can only stay for a very limited time. Turkey could have the channel out of this convention.

The economist of the GlobalSource Partners think tank, Atilla Yesilada, believes that the construction of the canal could be a way to appease Washington after years of costly tensions for Ankara.

“It is possible that Erdogan is considering change the free passage of NATO ships in the Black Sea against (the suspension) of sanctions“Imposed by Washington on Ankara for the purchase of Russian missiles,” Yesilada said.

The channel could be used in turn as navigation currency charge merchant ships for a rapid pace, as they are often forced to wait several weeks at the entrance to the Bosporus due to traffic jams.

But it could increase tensions with Russia, warned Yesilada and Skinner.

Vladimir Poutine, The Russian president “stressed the importance” of preserving the Montreux Convention during a meeting with Erdogan in April, according to the Kremlin.

“At the end of the day, I don’t see what Turkey could gain other than the problems,” Yesilada concluded.

Agencia AFP

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