It was a button and the... Erdogan pressed it, resetting the scene of tension in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean. After several weeks of calm, the Turkish side went back to what it knows how to do very well. The gunboat policy and the lionizing through which it tries to impose and impose itself.
The Turkish President gave the signal with the personal attack he launched last Monday on the Greek Prime Minister. It took him almost a week to react on the substance of what Mitsotakis said in his meeting with Biden and his historic speech to Congress.
It took him almost a week to react on the substance of what Mitsotakis said in his meeting with Biden and his historic speech to Congress. Finally, Erdogan found himself in both alleys and chose - mainly for internal consumption - to announce that he was cutting off all contact with Athens. He chose to sacrifice the positive agenda on the altar of the electioneering that has already begun in view of the national elections in Turkey in the summer of 2023.
Almost simultaneously with Erdogan's statements, provocations on the ground began to manifest themselves. A coordinated operation with actions on three levels: Cyprus, Aegean Alexandroupoli and migration.[BRP]Regarding Cyprus, we saw moves (more sensationalism) in Varosha and heard threats of "retaliation" in relation to the start of drilling by ENI and TOTAL in Block 6. It came as no surprise that the map of Turkish claims to the Cypriot EEZ (demarcated and undefined) was reintroduced in Turkey's pro-government media.
As if ready for a long time, the Turkish air force started again the overflights over the Aegean Sea and Alexandroupolis. After a long period of relative calm, several dozen violations by Turkish fighter jets were recorded within a few days. In some cases there were dogfights with Greek aircraft that stood up to intercept them. But there was also activity at sea, with Ankara issuing a navtex and sending the research vessel "Yunus S" to the central Aegean.
The third level is that of migration, with Erdogan confirming in the worst way that whenever he has two feet in one shoe he will blackmail by instrumentalizing human souls. He cares little, as his history has shown. In this way, the Aegean and Evros are once again filled with wreckers and migrant caravans.
Turkey is increasing tension at all levels, sorely disappointing those who believed that diplomacy could solve problems that have plagued the entire region for decades. That in the face of its own self-interest, it would put water in its viscous wine with its utterly absurd claims. Its behaviour in the last twenty-four hours, unfortunately, leaves little room for optimism.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
