Thread by @ZenonasTziarras

Comments on #Turkey's policy in the #EastMed alongside colleague @JMJalel_H.

Elaborated thoughts in thread below, including about today's Greek-Turkish meeting/press conference>

https://twitter.com/amberinzaman/status/1382785723196182529

#Turkey is currently following a two-fold strategy in the broader #EasternMediterranean. On the one hand it embarked, at least ostensibly, on an effort to normalize its relations with a number of regional countries including #Egypt, #Israel, #Greece, #France and the #UAE. >

Ankara expects that this will convince the #US and #EU that it adopted a more pro-western and constructive foreign policy orientation. Both the talks with #Greece and the developments in the #Cyprus process aim to appease the EU, advance Turkish-EU relations, and >>

increase the chances of economic rewards for #Turkey. On the other hand, Ankara is trying to use the normalization of these relations in a subversive way, namely to undo the network of cooperation that has emerged between #Cyprus, #Greece, #Israel, #Egypt, and >>

other Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries. This network has among other things functioned as an antagonistic pole to #Turkey thus challenging its revisionist geopolitical aspirations. >

By restoring individual relationships with some of these states, #Turkey is hoping to weaken its cohesion and more participate in the regional security architecture as an agenda-setter more effectively.

In #Libya, #Turkey has already managed to reap the fruits of its intervention on multiple levels, including maritime zones, security cooperation, and construction contracts. However #Greece's recent effort to write the wrongs of its previous Libya policy >>

by approaching the new interim government points to a new round of Greek-Turkish antagonism in the #EasternMediterranean and #NorthAfrica. >>

W substantial issues remaining unresolved between the 2 counties, #Erdogan's efforts to court #Greece & create the prospect for a meeting w Mitsotakis is about fabricating a virtual momentum that'll allow him to bypass meaningful moves at the negotiating table and signal the EU >

#Dendias' stance at the press conference with #Erdogan aimed to push #Cavusoglu to "come out" and show his true colors and, at the same time, give the Greek position more publicity - in the hopes of getting more support. >>

#Dendias basically wanted to expose the Turkish stance, given that no substantial developments have taken place at the official talks. That is, there was nothing to jeopardize apart from the image of the country that plays along that #Turkey is trying to project abroad.

Fin.