Middle East 579
to this note came on December 11, and claimed the demonstrations were based purely
on internal politics not international powers. The Soviet Union deemed this response
unsatisfactory.
On December 20, the Soviet Union demanded that Turkey cede 180 square
miles of land along the Black Sea coast, as it was historically Georgian territory.
The area would also be a strategic gain for the Soviets as it connected the Rus-
sian oil port, Batumi, to Giresun. On December 21, Turkey voted to increase their
military budget and stated they would use force if the Soviet Union tried to alter
their current frontiers. The Soviet Union moved troops and tanks by night to for-
tify the Black Sea and headed south to the Bulgarian border on January 16, 1946.
The Armenian National Council asked the UN General Assembly to annex former
Armenian provinces of Turkey to the Soviet Union on January 17. On March 14, the
Soviet troops marched west from Azerbaijan toward Turkey. The Soviet Union and
Turkey remained mobilized through August. The United States announced that its
policy was against Soviet expansion but would allow Russian ships to sail through the
strait on August 16. The United States contemplated sending an aircraft carrier into the
Aegean Sea at the entrance to the Dardanelles, which the Soviet Union demanded on
October 2. The United States threatened the Soviet Union with war in October 1946,
and the Soviet Union backed down.
MID#607
Started in April 1957. See the narrative in the 652 Syria/663 Jordan dyad dispute
list.
MID#125
Started in May 1958. See the narrative in the 2 United States of America/651 Egypt dyad
dispute list.
MID#253
Started in April 1960. See the narrative in the 2 United States of America/365 Russia dyad
dispute list.
MID#3163
Dispute Number: 3163
Date(s): August 14, 1962
Participants: 365 Russia/640 Turkey
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Soviet border guards opened fire on Turkish troops, triggering a half-hour
exchange of fire. There were no casualties.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from August 17, 1962. End Date changed from
August 17, 1962.