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Erdogan Promoting Istanbul Canal to Bypass the Bosphorus

(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Remi Daniel and Gallia Lindenstrauss - Since 2011, Turkish President Erdogan has promoted the excavation of a canal between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, as a waterway parallel to the Bosphorus Strait. The straight route of the artificial canal, compared to the sharp bends in the Bosphorus, should prevent accidents and help reduce the traffic in the strait, which is used by 40,000 ships every year (more than the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal combined). The Turkish government claims it will be entitled to collect a transit toll from ships crossing the canal - a charge that is not possible in the Bosphorus. Opponents of the project say the cost ($20 billion according to unofficial estimates) is too great a burden on the Turkish economy. They also note that elements close to Erdogan and his AKP party have purchased land for the canal's planned route and stand to earn considerable revenues when the state buys the land. Opponents include Istanbul's new mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu.
2020-03-06 00:00:00
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