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Freedom and law in the Mediterranean cannot be left in the hands of an Islamist autocrat who has taken a nationalist and religious course. This was stated in an interview with “Figaro” Adrien Desuyen, an expert in international relations at the Pont Neuf Foundation, a private research center, BGNES reported.
Figaro: Is it correct that France, when firmly supporting Greece and Cyprus in their confrontation with Turkey, risks jeopardizing its relations with Germany?
Adrien Desuin: In these difficult times, we have the flattering impression that France is saving the honor of Europe. The countries of the north and east of the continent seem invisible, obsessed with expelling Russia with the help of the United States. Turkey has cleverly infiltrated the traditional rivalry between the United States and Russia. Thanks to her position, she allows herself to “play her horse” in the Mediterranean, looking at France with unprecedented arrogance. But it must be remembered that, although its ordinary armed forces outnumber those of France, France is a nuclear state that will not allow any aggression.
Turkey regularly and systematically violates the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus at sea and on land, just as China violates the sovereignty of its neighbors in the East China Sea. Southeast Asia may seem exaggerated, but the Mediterranean affects us directly. If France and its Mediterranean allies do not act now, Turkey will gradually be allowed to declare itself a guard on our maritime borders. But freedom and law in the Mediterranean cannot be left in the hands of an Islamist autocrat who has taken a nationalist and religious course.
Germany has been a pacifist country since 1945 and that is good. We will not attempt to remilitarize you at any cost. Unfortunately, he is held hostage by his strong Turkish minority. If she suddenly decided to join French military diplomacy, Angela Merkel would get hurt. Berlin will hold the presidency of the European Union for the next six months, and the European Commission is headed by Germany’s defense minister, close to Merkel.
This is another element that must be taken into account. Germany is trying to become an utterly useless arbiter at a time of extreme stress, when Europe’s survival and its authority are at stake. On the other hand, a frontal attack between France and Turkey would be a bad move from the point of view of our German allies. But in the end, this crisis will help us understand who our true friends are and who we can count on in the event of a severe blow. This is certainly not NATO, of which Turkey is a member.
Figaro: And isn’t this another blow to the European diplomacy project?
Adrienne Desweins: European diplomacy as such has never existed. And it cannot exist. Separate coalitions on a specific theme or program are possible and desirable, as was the wonderful French initiative to hold a summit of the southern European countries (Med 7) in Corsica. But we must not forget that European construction has given up all strategic ambitions from the beginning. Its goal since the late 1940s has been to keep American power on its turf so that it never has to survive or wage war again.
With the exception of General de Gaulle’s France, all European countries agreed to hand over their political and military leadership to the invading American defender. The European Union did not think about the fact that the United States could leave us to our own devices, as it did in 1914 and 1940. But the Americans were tired of providing expensive custody in Europe for decades. Although the United States seized the opportunity to suppress Russian military power, it wanted more money and less discussion with the allies.
Figaro: Should we take Erdogan’s threats seriously?
Adrienne Deswien: Erdogan is a pure populist. He always resorted to insults and scandalous public actions to maintain his popularity with the masses. But 20 years after coming to power, he faces difficulties on practically all fronts. His conquests in Syria and operations in Libya have been more or less successful in diverting public attention from the president’s economic and political failures. By the way, Erdogan has chosen a great destiny for his people: to give them back the burden they had in the middle of their development in the 16th century. But for now, the Turkish lira is at its lowest, Istanbul has lost, and its former prime minister and diplomatic adviser, Ahmet Davutoglu, has condemned the results of its policies and aspirations for hegemony.
In this way, Erdogan is increasingly dependent on Turkey’s most nationalist and extremist faction, the Nationalist Action Party, backed by the highly influential Gray Wolves.
This Turkish Islamic nationalism, which praises both the greatness of the Ottoman Caliphate and the unity and military centralization created during the time of Mustafa Kemal, must be taken seriously. The actions of the Turkish President regarding Hagia Sophia and the Church of Christ the Savior should not be underestimated. His program is the Islamization of Europe. The ethnic and religious cleansing in Turkey had its precedents with Armenians, Greeks and Kurds. If we allow Erdogan to advance even a few kilometers, the entire Mediterranean and the Balkans will turn into chaos.
Turkey
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