“Russia is, of course, a strategic partner. How many hours would it take for you to travel to Washington? How long would it take to go to Moscow?” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked me almost two years ago in a gathering. “We have joint strategic investments, from pipelines to nuclear reactors. We have joint interests in the defence industry, increasing bilateral trade and tourism, so on and so forth.”
Ankara has huge economic and strategic stakes in Libya, which it seeks to maintain.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday his country aims to strengthen relations with Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA).
The vessels, commonly known as the “Saar 6,” will be at the forefront of Israeli efforts to protect its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
Azerbaijan said that it had “liberated” seven villages on Saturday, which led to cheers in Baku.
Sunday has brought more escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan as the countries continue to rely on missiles and rockets to shell each other over the last few days. The attack on the Armenian controlled town of Stepanakert on Saturday was followed by a long-range missile attack on Ganja in Azerbaijan.
“Definitely the question of Turkey is a very complicated one, because Turkey is part of NATO,” the defense minister said.
For the first time, the US appears to be confronting Turkey over its fueling of conflict all over the Middle East.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has paid a visit to the eastern Mediterranean, where he met Greek leaders. He was also in Cyprus on September 12. Turkey has been threatening Greece and Cyprus and causing tensions in the eastern Mediterranean. Ankara’s challenge has caused Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Israel to work together more closely.
Something about the idea of Europe becoming a strategic actor in global affairs brings to mind the old Irish saying: May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
French President Emmanuel Macron has clearly decided to up the ante in a standoff with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean, where France is backing Greece and Cyprus in their dispute with Ankara over natural gas reserves and maritime boundaries.
The Mediterranean Sea is still the principal corridor for migrants trying to enter the European Union, and Italy is in effect its front door.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the continued presence of Russia’s major naval and air bases in his country help counter the influence of Western powers in the region as the battle to crush foreign-backed terrorists was winding down.