Provoking Greece: Erdogan challenges Europe and continues his bullying in Mediterranean

Tensions have risen recently between Greece and Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean due to Ankara's continuous attacks on the region. This is something Athens strongly rejects, considering it a Turkish violation and assault on the rights of Greece. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan turns a blind eye to the demands of Greece and European countries and instead continues his violations in the Mediterranean waters.

Turkish escalation

The latest Turkish violation was the Turkish Defense Ministry forces’ interception on August 28 of six Greek F-16 warplanes southwest of Cyprus over the Mediterranean in order to keep them away from the Turkish Navtex notification area of ​​Ankara's gas exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean. This prompted Greece to demand that Turkey cease its provocative actions in the Mediterranean region.

It should be noted that Turkey's interception of Greek aircraft is Erdogan’s first response to the European Union’s announcement on August 28 that a summit will be held in September to take “deterrent measures” against Turkey if it does not stop Its violations and attacks in the Mediterranean.

This escalation was not the first of its kind by Turkey, as it also conducted several military maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean region at different times in August. Turkey announced that it would undertake military exercises in the Mediterranean region between August 29 and September 11, but it began before this date, on August 10, when the Turkish Navy conducted a military exercise off Cyprus. Then, on August 25, Turkey announced it would conduct naval exercises and maneuvers south of the Greek island of Crete, in which a number of Turkish and allied warships participated, according to Turkish media.

Turkish objections

The Turkish maneuvers come at a time when Ankara has objected to the maneuvers carried out by Greece in the Mediterranean, considering them a violation of the region. Erdogan previously objected to Greece’s recent military maneuvers, viewing the Greek maneuvers as partially interfering with the areas that the Turkish vessel Oruç Reis is exploring for gas in the Mediterranean. According to Erdogan, this matter is a threat to the safety of navigation and spreads more tension in the region.

Turkey also objected to the air force exercises carried out by Greece and the United Arab Emirates in the Mediterranean on August 28, and they were also joined by France and Italy. The Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement that the deployment of French military aircraft in Greek Cyprus violates all international treaties, adding that the maneuvers carried out by Greece and the UAE are a violation of the Mediterranean region.

This opens the door to questions, as Turkey objects to Greece’s basic rights while Ankara continues its own aggressions in the Mediterranean. Therefore, the main questions are whether Turkey will carry out a further escalation in the Mediterranean and how the ongoing dispute between Turkey and Greece will end, especially after the European Union announced the imposition of sanctions on Turkey in the event that it does not stop its attacks in the Mediterranean.

Policy of manipulation

Mohammad Sadiq Ismail, director of the Arab Center for Policy Studies, explained to the Reference that Greece is exercising its natural right in the Mediterranean region regarding exploration for gas within its maritime borders. Therefore, it extended its borders to a length of 12 miles in accordance with the rules of international law that allow this. The problem lies with Turkey, which is practicing a policy of conflict and riots within the Mediterranean region in an attempt to steal the region’s huge gas reserves. Ankara is therefore trying to confront the Europeans politically and militarily by attacking Greece.

However, Ismail noted that he has ruled out a military escalation by Turkey during the coming period for several reasons, including that the European Union will not leave Greece alone to be aggressed. On the other hand, Turkey is not ready to enter a war due to its exhausted economy, as well as its interventions in Syria, Libya and Iraq. Turkey is mainly attempting to manipulate the situation in order to send a message to EU countries.

Turkish escalation to gain gains

For his part, Hesham Najjar, a researcher specializing in Turkish affairs, told the Reference that Turkey is expected to escalate the issue for many reasons, the first of which is that this aggressive move against Greece and its rights comes in the context of a planned project to occupy other lands and plunder their wealth as part of Turkey’s greater expansionist project. Secondly, Erdogan is trying desperately to divert his people's attention from domestic problems and Turkey’s stifling political and economic crises.

Najjar pointed out that Turkey is stubborn and has escalated the situation primarily to obtain gains without war through European mediation. But this is a double-edged policy, and war could break out at any moment as a result of a mistake or an unexpected provocative response that could flare up confrontations. Ankara therefore threatens escalation so that it is not in a position of weakness in any settlement or dialogue sponsored by Europe to end the crisis with Greece in the Mediterranean region.