Mediterranean Sea Struggle between Turkey and Greece and its Implications for the Existence of NATO and the Way Forward
Keywords:
NATO; Mediterranean Sea; Turkey; GreeceAbstract
The Mediterranean Sea has been a vital passage since time immemorial. It was the cultural and ideological fault line between empires in eastern and western countries. Contrary to its previous past, the last century saw the peaceful sea. However, Greece and Turkey's recent standstill ruins this ideal time. Turkey's assertive policies to explore gas and oil in the Mediterranean Sea, known as the Blue Homeland approach, have been a significant disruption in the region's status quo. The presence of France, Egypt, and the UAE in the dispute has exacerbated this rivalry. The negotiated conflict settlement is essential; otherwise, NATO's very existence and regional stability are in danger. The author explains the conflict actors' root causes and interests and introduces the potential solution to this conflict and NATO alliance revitalization that could end Russian aggression in the region.
References
Greece-Turkey tensions simmering again over territory, drilling rights. (Apr 16, 2018) CBC NEWS. link https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/greece-turkey-tensions-flag-1.4621325
Strauss, Barry December (27, 2019) Is The Mediterranean Still Geo-Strategically Essential? Hoover institute. (Issue 62). https://www.hoover.org/research/mediterranean-still-geo-strategically-essential
Tuysuz, Gul (August 26, 2020) NATO allies are facing off in the Eastern Mediterranean. The conflict could entangle the entire region. CNN. link. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/25/europe/greece-turkey-eastern-mediterranean-tension-intl/index.html
GINGERAS, RYAN (JUNE 2, 2020) BLUE HOMELAND: THE HEATED POLITICS BEHIND TURKEY’S NEW MARITIME STRATEGY. War on the Rocks. link https://warontherocks.com/2020/06/blue-homeland-the-heated-politics-behind-turkeys-new-maritime-strategy/
Turkey discovers 320 billion cubic metres natural gas reserve in Black Sea. (21 2020) Hurriat Daily Dews. link https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-finds-significant-gas-resources-in-black-sea-president-erdogan-announces-157595
Turkey's April current account $4.5 billion in deficit: Reuters poll. (JUNE 9, 2020) Reuters. link https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-economy-currentaccount-poll/turkeys-april-current-account-4-5-billion-in-deficit-reuters-poll-idUSKBN23G262?il=0
DYKE, J. M. V. (2005). An analysis of the Aegean disputes under international law. Ocean Development & International Law, 36(1), 63-117.
Elia, Valori Giancarlo (December 20, 2019) The Exclusive Economic Zone between Libya and Turkey. Modern Diplomacy. link https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2019/12/20/the-exclusive-economic-zone-between-libya-and-turkey/
EU sanctions Turkey for drilling offshore Cyprus. (July 16, 2019) Offshore Energy. link https://www.offshore-energy.biz/eu-sanctions-t
Grygiel, Jakub (January 10, 2020) The Importance of the Mediterranean Sea. Hoover institute. link https://www.hoover.org/research/importance-mediterranean-sea
Salah, Mostafa Mediterranean Sea. Britannica Encyclopedia. link https://www.britannica.com/place/Mediterranean-Sea
Trindade Lopes, M. H. (2010). The Mediterranean Sea: the language of history. Cahiers de la Méditerranée, (80), 11-16.
Lopes, M. H. T. (2014). The Mediterranean and the voices transported by time. In The Mediterranean Sea (pp. 553-557). Springer, Dordrecht.
Kirby, Jen (Jun 25, 2019) An Istanbul mayoral election is rattling Turkey’s politics. VOX. link https://www.vox.com/2019/6/25/18715397/istanbul-mayor-elections-turkey-erdogan-imamoglu
Pinko, Eyal (31/03/2020) Turkey’s Maritime Strategy Ambitions: The Blue Homeland Doctrine (Mavi Vatan). IIMSRU. link https://iimsr.eu/2020/03/31/turkeys-maritime-strategy-ambitions-the-blue-homeland-doctrine-mavi-vatan/
Wilks, Andrew (Aug 14, 2020) Blue Homeland: the doctrine behind Turkey's Mediterranean claims. The National. link https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/blue-homeland-the-doctrine-behind-turkey-s-mediterranean-claims-1.1063591
Ward, Alex (Apr 11, 2019) How America’s relationship with Turkey fell apart. Vox. link https://www.vox.com/world/2019/4/11/18292070/usa-turkey-trump-erdogan-s400
CINAR, ALI (22 JAN 2020)The future of the Turkey-US relationship. TRT World. link https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/the-future-of-the-turkey-us-relationship-33146
OGUZ, ALPASLAN & TURKCAN, LUTFI MUHAMMED (15 JUL 2019) How Turkey-US relations became strained after the July 15 coup attempt. TRT World. link https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/how-turkey-us-relations-became-strained-after-the-july-15-coup-attempt-28262
Turner, Julian (January 31st, 2020) Erdogan: Turkey may suspend ties with UAE over Israel deal. Offshore Technology. link https://www.offshore-technology.com/features/cyprus-and-turkey-the-battle-for-oil-and-gas-in-the-eastern-mediterranean/
Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum to promote regional energy cooperation. (Aug 5, 2019) Al-Monitor. link https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/08/egypt-east-med-gas-forum-founding-members-meeting-israel.html
Dağlı, İlke (5 April 2017) The Cyprus Problem: Why Solve a Comfortable Conflict? Oxford Research Group. link https://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/blog/the-cyprus-problem-why-solve-a-comfortable-conflict?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=4548d87c938760f1510a50440e1d09ecb5a9fcb2-1600347266-0-AcsGVgd1JFn3amEjy_DzKG-qX825DMDgXcjv3u3ZEhPm6GY01n2o7N7J-bsndZ7VGVoFSa5IC0ptD2N_W15pQvtPLbc2xElQnczA78u_ZzSdmmEkFxDxQHtOeBFDkFQohN7z8EsaYLbqi5EENEpsHzk2BwjhqZ-8yPtgF95wTx3h8YjfV7J2nV1zaRQPe4Ne64aPBlLR8yv-tW0sz-2jAbiOUw6ecdqBmHyRBea21QwSuE6qXoz6-YQmeD52t9lxnC8AEMxCudHl2tCT2N_IL3p5hXiAWEZ5M2OnEu-UcQXyvEo1IEK_g3I6YjJuzyCoaNABZhBCsaFl3gZ3ivGZGosKi1--4r_-UuatqgTfUbEcoo6gykcYNPaxnky1ZAOWjHxVcOsB2JOQUrovc3EPG2m6rnIgImnHcFlTuclXd_Jw
Mortimer, Caroline & Lauren Chadwick, (11/10/2019) Turkey-Cyprus dispute: Why are the two countries arguing over drilling rights? Euro News. https://www.euronews.com/2019/06/24/turkey-cyprus-dispute-why-are-the-two-countries-arguing-over-drilling-rights
pope, Hugh (2011) Rationality and the Cyprus Dispute. International Crisis Group. Link https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/western-europemediterranean/cyprus/rationality-and-cyprus-dispute
Turkey reiterates will to keep protecting rights in East Med without compromise. (JUN 02, 2020) Daily Sabah. link https://www.dailysabah.com/business/energy/turkey-reiterates-will-to-keep-protecting-rights-in-east-med-without-compromise
Erlanger,Steven (Aug. 3, 2020) Turkish Aggression Is NATO’s ‘Elephant in the Room’. NewYork Times. link https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/world/europe/turkey-nato.html
GILSINAN, KATHY (OCTOBER 11, 2019) Why Is Turkey in NATO Anyway? The Atlantic. link https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/10/turkey-and-nato-troubled-relationship/599890/
Mehta, Aaron (July 17, 2019) officially kicked out of F-35 program, costing US half a billion dollars Turkey. Defence News. link https://www.defensenews.com/air/2019/07/17/turkey-officially-kicked-out-of-f-35-program/
Vavasseur, Xavier (03 Jul 2020) France Pulls Out Of NATO Operation Sea Guardian Amid Tensions With Turkey. Naval News. Link https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/07/france-pulls-out-of-nato-operation-sea-guardian-amid-tensions-with-turkey/
DEMPSEY, JUDY (September 03, 2020) Judy Asks: Is NATO Paralyzed Over the Greece-Turkey Conflict? Carnegie Europe. link https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/82643
Henderson, Simon (July 24, 2019) Turkey’s Energy Confrontation with Cyprus Washington Institute. link https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/turkeys-energy-confrontation-with-cyprus
Kambas,Michele & Zawadzki, Sabina (FEBRUARY 28, 2019) Exxon's Cyprus gas discovery adds another giant to East Med collection Reuters. link https://www.reuters.com/article/us-exxon-mobil-cyprus-idUSKCN1QH1O3
Butt, Gerald (13 May 2020) East Med gas going nowhere. Petroleum Economist. link https://www.petroleum-economist.com/articles/upstream/exploration-production/2020/east-med-gas-going-nowhere
Conley, A. Heather & Ellehuus, Rachel (July 17, 2020) How NATO Can Avoid a Strategic Decoupling in the Eastern Mediterranean. Centre for Strategic and International Studies. link https://www.csis.org/analysis/how-nato-can-avoid-strategic-decoupling-eastern-mediterranean
Troubled waters: on EU-Turkey relations. (AUGUST 19, 2020) The Hindu. link https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/troubled-waters/article32388442.ece
Dealing with a dangerous dispute in the eastern Med. (Aug 20th 2020 edition) the Economist. https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/08/20/dealing-with-a-dangerous-dispute-in-the-eastern-med
Turkey: COVID-19 Adds More Pressure on Deteriorating Economy. (March 31st, 2020) Al-Bawaba. https://www.albawaba.com/business/turkey-covid-19-adds-more-pressure-deteriorating-economy-1347914
Valori, Elia Giancarlo (December 20, 2019) The Exclusive Economic Zone between Libya and Turkey Modern Diplomacy. link https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2019/12/20/the-exclusive-economic-zone-between-libya-and-turkey/
Carassava, Anthee (September 04, 2020) Greece Rejects NATO Bid to De-Escalate Tensions With Turkey. Vice Of America News. link https://www.voanews.com/europe/greece-rejects-nato-bid-de-escalate-tensions-turkey
Tuysuz, Gul (August 26, 2020) NATO allies are facing off in the Eastern Mediterranean. The conflict could entangle the entire region. CNN. link https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/25/europe/greece-turkey-eastern-mediterranean-tension-intl/index.html
Erdogan: Turkey may suspend ties with UAE over Israel deal. (15 Aug 2020) Al-Jazeera. link https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/erdogan-turkey-suspend-ties-uae-israel-deal-200815064313281.html
Jets hit Libyan airbase recently captured by Turkish-backed forces, say sources. (5 July 2020) Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/jets-hit-libyas-al-watiya-airbase-where-turkey-may-build-base-sources-say
Cook, A. Steven (August 17, 2020) What’s Behind the New Israel-UAE Peace Deal? Council on Foreign Affairs. link https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/whats-behind-new-israel-uae-peace-deal
Turkey says it is ready to help rebuild port of Beirut. (AUGUST 8, 2020) The Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-security-blast-turkey-idUSKCN2540EE
James, Liam (13 August 2020) France steps up military presence in Mediterranean as tensions rise between Greece and Turkey. The Independent. link https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-military-greece-turkey-dispute-waters-mediterranean-macron-nato-a9668451.html
Sayin, F. M. (2008). SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM AND TURKISH POSITION. Journal of Qafqaz University, (24).
Calleya, S. C. (2005). Evaluating Euro-Mediterranean Relations. Routledge.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
The author fully assumes the content originality and the holograph signature makes him responsible in case of trial.