Rather than committing itself to the Ottoman Empire, let's suppose the British government concludes the situation is not worth sending young British men to die for. Britain makes its neutrality known, but still fails to mediate a peace. What happens to the world as a result?
WI Britain stays out of Crimean War
- Thread starter PuffyClouds
- Start date
Would France commit to the defence of the Ottomans (effectively) alone, or just let Russia nom on the Ottomans? Or even join the Russians in the noming?
The war started with a feud between Napoleon III and Nicholas over authority in the Empire. I don’t think the former needed encouragement.
Koprulu Mustafa Pasha
Gone Fishin'
If the Ottoman fleet is not crushed like OTL in Sinop, the British might be less frightened that their Medditeranean domination is challenged. A threat on Constantinople is unacceptable for the British navy.
Or the public opinion must be pro-Russia. But I doubt that.
Why does it matter? The Royal Navy can maintain its connection to the Suez while letting Russia run itself ragged trying to keep control over half of Asia.
Koprulu Mustafa Pasha
Gone Fishin'
Actually it matters a lot. At the time the British viewed a Russian occupation of the straits as a threat. The Russians navy can enter the Medditeranean and threaten the future channel in Egypt. Whats better than fighting it? Preventing it. Especially if the public opinion at home turns against Russia.
Suez is relatively far off in the future. No one could state that there will be a canal there within 15 years.
OTOH if Russia walks over the Ottomans (which is not a given anyway) the Balkans would become a Russian playground and Constantinople would be quite at risk. Preserving the Ottoman empire (and in particular avoiding Russia to take the lion's share of the spoils) has been a joint Anglo-French policy since the late 1820s.
I don't think the French and Ottomans can eject the Russians out of the occupied Bulgaria alone
What occupied Bulgaria? IOTL the Turks stopped the Russian advance at what's now the Bulgarian-Romania border. Yes, alone.
Even without help, the Turks gave as good as they got in this war. I don't think the Russians would stand much chance against both them and the French.