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The German press did not like the joint aviation exercise of Greece, Cyprus, Egypt “Medusa” in collaboration with France and the United Arab Emirates with the financial newspaper Handelsblatt that presents an article entitled “Greece moves away from Germany”.
As Medusa reports, it was the name of a terrifying monster in ancient Greek mythology, with serpentine hair and glowing eyes. Those who saw it turned into stones, according to legend. The purpose of “Medusa 2020” is also a deterrent. This is the code name for the military exercise that the five states are conducting this week, ”underscoring the UAE joining the exercise, with which Kyriakos Mitsotakis signed a strategic agreement two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi. “The agreement is part of the diversification of Greek foreign policy,” Handelsblatt notes.
“The growing tensions with Turkey (…) Greece and Cyprus are in the background. They have not been able to fulfill their request for sanctions in Ankara. Of the main European countries, only France is next to them. The EU criticizes Turkish gas exploration as illegal and threatens Ankara with sanctions, but is reluctant to implement them. But mainly the German government is holding back, probably due to the importance of Turkey in maintaining the refugee agreement and taking into account economic interests, especially in the arms sector. “Last year, more than a third of German arms exports went to Turkey.”
According to Handelsblatt, Greece perceives the Turkish-German weapons program as a “threat”. As he himself states: “The anger at Germany’s attitude is not only great within the Greek government. And ordinary people are disappointed. “According to a recent poll in Greece, cited in the article, 71% of respondents consider Germany’s position on the Greek-Turkish conflict negative, 62% are not satisfied with the position of the EU and 76% is positive about France. “Because the EU is maneuvering, Athens is now creating a new network of associations. “This is especially true because other countries in the region also see Turkey’s stance in the Middle East and North Africa as increasingly aggressive.”
New defense alliances for Greece
The report refers to the joint declaration of Greece, Cyprus and Egypt last March, condemning Turkish territorial claims in the Mediterranean and notes that “Turkey’s efforts to become a hegemonic power in the Middle East are viewed with great suspicion by most of the countries in the region. ” The three countries had also joined forces with Italy, Israel and Jordan to form a gas group, HB recalled, adding: “Turkey remains out. Athens also establishes closer contacts with Saudi Arabia (…) The new partnership will also benefit from the reduction of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, with which Greece also works closely. Turkey, which only has good relations with Qatar in the Middle East, is therefore more isolated in the region. The Ankara government is monitoring the diplomatic activities of the Greek government with growing discontent. “The Turkish Foreign Ministry characterizes the new collaborations by the Greeks as an” alliance of evil. “
Source: German wave
