The Turkish Straits in British Strategy (1774-1923): Geography Balancing the Ottoman Empire, Britain, and Russia

This article examines the strategic impact of geography on British foreign policy-making through the case of the Turkish Straits. It argues that geography functioned as a structural modifier, which shaped Britain’s long-term diplomatic and military strategy between two contrasting paradigms. These are the policies of closure of the Straits, designed to contain Russia, and the policy of freedom, intended to preserve British naval access. Drawing on diplomatic records and treaty developments from the late 18th century through the post-World War I period, the study shows how Britain’s shifting approaches to the Straits were driven not merely by immediate geopolitical changes but by persistent geographic constraints. The findings demonstrate the enduring influence of geographic chokepoints in shaping the logic and limits of great power diplomacy.