Turkish Foreign Policy and Regional Geopolitics

[Foinikas]

Your link said they monitored from a distance outside, not interfered.

What's a Turkish corvette doing there watching where Greece wants to lay cable? Did you see how close to northeast Crete that was?

 

[Foinikas]

Foni you should understand the coming 4 years you will cry to a wall and bobody will listen to Greece. EU is trying to save ther ass. EU is bigger then Greece water issues, wait and see. Germany is starting today arming them self, they are working with a lot off Turkish weapon companies .

What if there's a world war and Turkey gets nuked instead?

 

[Oublious]

What if there's a world war and Turkey gets nuked instead?

dreampipe like the unclos water....

 

[hyperman]

What's a Turkish corvette doing there watching where Greece wants to lay cable? Did you see how close to northeast Crete that was?

Freedom of Navigation. Just like US Ships through South China Sea.

 

[hyperman]

What if there's a world war and Turkey gets nuked instead?

Who will nuke Turkey? lol

 

[Foinikas]

Freedom of Navigation. Just like US Ships through South China Sea.

Then don't talk to me about good will and friendship and talks. You don't solve problems by acting like this.

 

[hyperman]

Then don't talk to me about good will and friendship and talks. You don't solve problems by acting like this.

What happened to rights? Greece Exercising their right, so Turkey exercising too. Now you are upset?

 

[Foinikas]

Who will nuke Turkey? lol

Russia,US...all those you occasionally betray

Well in Orthodox prophecy,Russia will eventually destroy Turkey. There's no specific mention of nukes,but the description of destruction points to big weapons.

 

[Foinikas]

What happened to rights? Greece Exercising their right, so Turkey exercising too. Now you are upset?

Latest incident north of Crete, in international waters, has a lone Turkish corvette monitoring two maritime vessels, including the Ievoli, conducting research for the GSI project​

Reports out of Athens on Monday citing diplomatic sources claimed that the Greek foreign minister brought up the issue of a Turkish corvette over the weekend “shadowing” two research vessels collecting data for an undersea power cable, and during a meeting in Qatar with his Turkish counterpart.

Greek Minister George Gerapetritis met with Turkish FM Hakan Fidan in Doha a day earlier, with official announcements afterwards revolving around a general description of talks on bilateral, regional and international developments, CBMs and what’s billed as issues in a “positive agenda”.

Nevertheless, some 2,500 kilometers away Greek authorities spotted the Turkish naval vessel monitoring the Italian-flagged buoy-laying vessel Ιevoli Relume and its support ship NG Worker in the southern Aegean. The latter were sailing and conducting research just north of the Gulf of Agios Nikolaos on Crete in international waters. The two vessels have been contracted to conduct research and preliminary work for the ambitious Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project, which aims to lay an undersea power cable connecting Cyprus with Crete.

“One cannot prevent this type of (cable) laying because it’s considered that such power cables are necessary in order to provide essential services to citizens. It’s fully protected under international law,” Gerapetritis has previously stated.

In previous instances, Athens has vigorously underlined that such activity in international waters is fully protected under international law and the even more germane UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thereby no licensing is required, as claimed by non-UNCLOS signatory Ankara.

“The research will continue as normal, as defined by the planning, and without any possibility of interruption or a change of plans,” was the comment by Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, who was asked about the incident during a regular briefing on Monday.

“…the Turkish (corvette) is not at seven nautical miles or even next to (the research vessels). Obviously, we’re monitoring it (Turkish ship) with a frigate but also with a coast guard craft,” he added.

The “shadowing” incident came after the Hellenic Navy hydrographic service (HNHS), and specifically its Irakleio station, issued a notice to mariners (NAVTEX) of undersea cable laying works by the NG Worker and Ievoli Relume. The notice was issued on Feb. 5.

A similar incident took place last July, when Turkey sent no less five warships to harass the same Italian-flagged vessel from conducting research in the sea region off the southeast Aegean Island of Kasos, claiming at the time that the specific maritime area was in the “Turkish continental shelf” and that any works would have to be approved by Turkish authorities.

Although only a lone Turkish vessel, and a corvette rather than a more powerful frigate, is involved, nevertheless the incident has raised eyebrows because it took place so close to the shores of Crete and far away from the nearest Turkish territory.

Reports: Annoyance With Turkish 'Shadowing' of Research Ship - tovima.com

Latest incident north of Crete, in international waters, has a lone Turkish corvette monitoring two maritime vessels, including the Ievoli, conducting research for the GSI project

www.tovima.com

And there was also this back in August

 

[Sinan]

That's because of a general lack of action in the geopolitical arena by the Greek government. Ever since the economic crisis,all governments couldn't look at the big picture,they just ...I don't know how to explain it in english. They didn't have a bigger plan. And by bigger plan I'm not saying they anything expansive or megalomania,I'm just saying they should be one move ahead. Turkey has smashed us in the influence arena. Of course,you'll tell me it makes sense. By mid-2010 Turkey's economy,defence industry and foreign investments had reached a point where it was so easy for Turkish diplomacy to gain influence in the entire region. And Turkey was extremely active and smart on this. What's this? Bosnia? Ottoman ties. What's that? Albania? Ottoman ties. Kosovo? We helped you gain independence. Azerbaijan,brothers. What's that,Libyan islamists? Qatari friends? Syrian islamists? Turkic world? Muslim world?

Turkish politicians and Turkish propaganda machine has been active and succesful in promoting Turkey as a kind of "ruling Muslim nation" or at least one of the best examples for the common Muslim to look up to,whether he's in the Balkans,in the Levant,in Turkestan,in Malaysia,in Indonesia etc.

Meanwhile,our guys were lazy. Without real vision. Of course we had huge problems. No money,Armed Forces left behind,political scandals destroying the country. And one more thing: No charismatic politicians.

The time of Andreas Papandreou and Konstantinos Mitsotakis or others,was gone.

Now it was like "Hey....Serbs are our best friends in the Balkans,shouldn't we...?" and our politicians would be like "nah,they pro-Russian,we want USA and EU to like us,forget them". Turkey is going to Libya....Greece,too little,too late as always tries have connections with Haftar. The Syrian government is in good terms with Greece,should we help them? No,they are friends of Putin and Iran,the EU considers Assad a "dictator",we must be on the "right side of history".

No real vision. Only when Erdogan had ruined Turkey's relations with almost everyone in the region and half of Europe,USA,Russia and Turkey's economy was collapsing fast...only then did we have great relations with others and Dendias was running here and there making more and more friends. It was then that this quote started being used all the time: "We are building strong alliances"....you would hear it again and again from time to time. Greece is building strong alliances! Greece is becoming stronger,with powerful alliances and dependable allies.

And then of course Erdogan folded and started asking for friendship everywhere. No dictators,only friends. And we remained at the "yes,yes,we are building strong alliances"

There is a Turkish channel. https://www.youtube.com/@YUNANBASINI/videos

Named "Greek Press" it adds subtitles to Greek tv discussion which are about Turkey. Time to time i watch the videos. I listened to Greek politicians, ex-generals, ex-inteligence officers, academics, press, etc...

They all see Turkey as an entity that need to be countered. This approach is fundamentally wrong. Turkey long past the point that can be countered by Greece. Be it politically, economically, militarily or population.

What Greece needs to is seek good relations with Turkey. When i say this Greeks generally go "What then, we should fold to Turkish demands?"

No, you need to compartmentalize the problems. What are the problems ? Aegean and East Mediterranean. Compartmentalize these problems and improve relations on other fronts.

Similar to what we did with Russia. We downed their jet, killed their ambassador, they bombed Turkmens in Syria, We backed different factions in Libya. But trade went on, construction of nuclear trade go on, gas transit go on, etc...

It's kinda surprising to see that none of the Greeks are able to think this.

 

[hyperman]

There is a Turkish channel. https://www.youtube.com/@YUNANBASINI/videos

Named "Greek Press" it adds subtitles to Greek tv discussion which are about Turkey. Time to time i watch the videos. I listened to Greek politicians, ex-generals, ex-inteligence officers, academics, press, etc...

They all see Turkey as an entity that need to be countered. This approach is fundamentally wrong. Turkey long past the point that can be countered by Greece. Be it politically, economically, militarily or population.

What Greece needs to is seek good relations with Turkey. When i say this Greeks generally go "What then, we should fold to Turkish demands?"

No, you need to compartmentalize the problems. What are the problems ? Aegean and East Mediterranean. Compartmentalize these problems and improve relations on other fronts.

Similar to what we did with Russia. We downed their jet, killed their ambassador, they bombed Turkmens in Syria, We backed different factions in Libya. But trade went on, construction of nuclear trade go on, gas transit go on, etc...

It's kinda surprising to see that none of the Greeks are able to think this.

Compartmentalization is too complex for people who think in binaries. There is also the element where they genuinely think they can defeat and overpower Turkey and all that is missing in their minds is enough support from EU states and the US. And that they can borrow economic/political strength of the EU or EU states and the US via lobbying or via other means to make Turkey submit.

 

[Foinikas]

There is a Turkish channel. https://www.youtube.com/@YUNANBASINI/videos

Named "Greek Press" it adds subtitles to Greek tv discussion which are about Turkey. Time to time i watch the videos. I listened to Greek politicians, ex-generals, ex-inteligence officers, academics, press, etc...

They all see Turkey as an entity that need to be countered. This approach is fundamentally wrong. Turkey long past the point that can be countered by Greece. Be it politically, economically, militarily or population.

What Greece needs to is seek good relations with Turkey. When i say this Greeks generally go "What then, we should fold to Turkish demands?"

No, you need to compartmentalize the problems. What are the problems ? Aegean and East Mediterranean. Compartmentalize these problems and improve relations on other fronts.

Similar to what we did with Russia. We downed their jet, killed their ambassador, they bombed Turkmens in Syria, We backed different factions in Libya. But trade went on, construction of nuclear trade go on, gas transit go on, etc...

It's kinda surprising to see that none of the Greeks are able to think this.

Unfortunately,it's not so simple. For the EEZ around Kastelorizo,I think a deal could be found. A solution. For Cyprus too maybe. But I'm the Aegean,no it's impossible. By all the Treaties since Lausanne,we have the right to our EEZ and Turkey only gets 3 naval miles from the coast,as well as Imbros,Tenedos and the Rabbit Islands.

The problem is that AKP has been promoting Mavi Vatan as the official government doctrine and together with Bahceli,they are talking about "occupied islands" and implying the reversal of treaties. Apart from that they also want invented a ridiculous "common EEZ" with Libya, bypassing southeastern Greece and Egypt,somehow reaching Libya which is directly south of Greece.

 

[Foinikas]

There is also the element where they genuinely think they can defeat and overpower Turkey

I suspect you got that from a couple of quotes by some politicians or former military who just go from TV channel to TV channel. Right?

 

[hyperman]

For the EEZ around Kastelorizo,I think a deal could be found.

This is the first time I'm hearing this from you. lol

 

[hyperman]

Unfortunately,it's not so simple. For the EEZ around Kastelorizo,I think a deal could be found. A solution. For Cyprus too maybe. But I'm the Aegean,no it's impossible. By all the Treaties since Lausanne,we have the right to our EEZ and Turkey only gets 3 naval miles from the coast,as well as Imbros,Tenedos and the Rabbit Islands.

The problem is that AKP has been promoting Mavi Vatan as the official government doctrine and together with Bahceli,they are talking about "occupied islands" and implying the reversal of treaties. Apart from that they also want invented a ridiculous "common EEZ" with Libya, bypassing southeastern Greece and Egypt,somehow reaching Libya which is directly south of Greece.

The Current Claims may not necessarily be what is agreed to later. Its an opening element in a bargaining negotiation, i don't think Turkey expects to get everything in a negotiation. I think its a first position in a negotiation, and then you meet somewhere in the middle.