Legacy Of “Friendly Neutrality” Goals Of Soviet Policy

... conclude a bilateral Pact according to which the USSR would be obligated to provide assistance to Turkey in the defense of its Anatolia coastline and the Straits, while Turkey would be committed to closing the Straits in the event that the USSR was attacked ... ... essence of the controversy between Moscow and Ankara. While it was a matter of paramount importance for Moscow to close the Black Sea to non-regional powers, whereby an “exclusive partnership” with Turkey was regarded by Moscow as the primary vehicle ...