comment: >
  
  Plus all the tankers loitering all along the borders of Russia, Moldova, Belarus etc pretty much 24/7 since this invasion started. They're refueling something we usually can't see, though occasionally you catch a glimpse of an F16 or F18 or some such before they go dark. Just having those tankers there with transponders on is sending a message as well - the public can see the flying gas stations, which means they have to be servicing something else
context: Tl;dr Passage of warships is still denied to everyone so the US warship is visiting the bosphorus without crossing >
  
  Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Montreux Convention prevents warships of the countries at war from crossing the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits. Under peacetime conditions, warships are allowed to cross under certain conditions and provided it's approved by Turkey.
  So couldn't the US argue that since it's not at war with either Ukraine or Russia and be allowed to cross? >
  
  Theres no need for that because if the us presses the issue they can have their warships pass through, which already happened in the past during cold war.
  Currently everyone is focused on keeping the russian ships out of the black sea. Several russian ships from pacific fleet were denied entry and knowing this prevents russia from sending everything they have to ukrainian shores.
  Since the us has nothing to do other than show of force in the black sea, pushing the issue and sending their ships through the bosphorus would gain them nothing positive. However it would give russia the excuse they need and make it difficult if not impossible to justify sending russian warships away.
  So it's better if the us warships visit the bosphorus without crossing. They can, if they want to, but they really shouldn't. >
  
  Ah, soft power in action. It's not loud and doesn't make idiots feel strong at home, but so much of the US's naval policy is to be without doing. 
  It's not that the US is there, but that it can be there. Such a public presence let's Russia know that the United States sits on Russia's border of naval influence and reminds Russia that the US can penetrate in with relative impunity. >
  
  The US Navy just silently wishing a mf would, and hanging out right in the background just so you know that they know that you know >
  
  The airforce has been doing something similar, if you go on flight tracker, there’s usually a AWACS on the Polish-Ukraine border, and a global hawk recon drone (Callsign FORTE10) right on the international waters line south of Sebastopol.