Russian dreadnought orders pushed the Ottoman Empire to seek comparable ships, because the two powers had a long history of conflict around the Black Sea. Ottoman acquisitions then alarmed Greece, whose own orders increased the pressure on Istanbul. Russia in turn could not accept an Ottoman advantage in the Black Sea and would answer with further construction. The exchange shows how linked regional rivalries could turn one navy's procurement decision into a self-reinforcing arms race.
Notable Point · 39:18-40:25
The Black Sea dreadnought race fed on regional rivalries
A compact explanation traces how Russian, Ottoman, and Greek ship purchases drove one another.