Ottoman Intervention in the Russo-Japanese War

That would be a pretty bad idea.

Many of Russia's problems with Japan were rooted in the difficulties of getting supplies, troops etc to the Far East. The Ottomans would have none of Japan's geographical advantages.

Then there's the state of the Ottoman Empire, which was not great. It had a subpar army with very limited (if any) offensive capabilities. An even more subpar navy. Unrest and instability in the provinces. And, even within the Turkish community and army, it faced dangerous revolutionary currents (Young Turks).

What can the Ottomans even do, other than closing the Straits? Attack Russia in the Caucasus and get immediately bogged down into a terrible meat-grinder?
Also, the Balkan states would be preparing to join the war on Russia's side from day 1. France might join Russia, too. And, ironically, the Ottoman attack might make the 1905 revolution significantly weaker, due to the rally-round-the-flag effect.

All in all, I don't think the Hamidian government ever considered this step - and I can totally understand why they didn't consider it.
 
That would be a pretty bad idea.

Many of Russia's problems with Japan were rooted in the difficulties of getting supplies, troops etc to the Far East. The Ottomans would have none of Japan's geographical advantages.

Then there's the state of the Ottoman Empire, which was not great. It had a subpar army with very limited (if any) offensive capabilities. An even more subpar navy. Unrest and instability in the provinces. And, even within the Turkish community and army, it faced dangerous revolutionary currents (Young Turks).

What can the Ottomans even do, other than closing the Straits? Attack Russia in the Caucasus and get immediately bogged down into a terrible meat-grinder?
Also, the Balkan states would be preparing to join the war on Russia's side from day 1. France might join Russia, too. And, ironically, the Ottoman attack might make the 1905 revolution significantly weaker, due to the rally-round-the-flag effect.

All in all, I don't think the Hamidian government ever considered this step - and I can totally understand why they didn't consider it.

Yeah, I was especially thinking that about the Balkan states, and how the Young Turk Revolution is just 3 years away. Is their an earlier POD that could allow such an Intervention, or any other type of way for it to be possible? At all?
 
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