Why did Great Britain and France align themselves with the Ottoman Empire during the Crimean War?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Great Britain and France aligned themselves with the Ottoman Empire during the Crimean War because they opposed Russian expansion in the eastern Mediterranean where they had naval and commercial interests. The Ottoman Empire controlled the strategically important Black Sea and the Straits leading to it, and British and French ships needed access to these waters to maintain their commercial and naval presence in the region.

Why Did Great Britain and France Align Themselves with the Ottoman