Strengthening the coalition against sanctions: Pompeo slapped Tsavousoglu

On Tuesday, Athens found unexpected support in the form and timing of its diplomatic efforts to bring together in a clear package the EU’s response to Ankara’s policy of provocation and crime.

slap

The slap of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşo τηλεlu during a NATO Foreign Ministers Conference during a teleconference broke the Sultan’s complacency about “still waters” at the upcoming European Summit. when it became clear that the impact of Turkey’s nationalist interventions on a huge front, from Armenia to Libya, upset American and European (French) interests more than he had realized.

And the Trump administration may be in Washington in recent weeks, waiting for the new Joe Biden administration, but America’s interests remain the same, largely regardless of the White House tenant. The fury of the US bureaucracy manifested itself in fierce disgust at Pompeo’s reprimand of the surprised Tsavousoglu, when he told him that the acquisition of the S-400 anti-aircraft system is a “gift to Russia” from a NATO ally.

Pompeo’s Fury

He also blamed him for Turkey’s provocative actions in the eastern Mediterranean, Libya, Syria, and Nagorno-Karabakh. This unexpected attack on the NATO conference shocked Tsavousoglou, who exploded into delusional accusations against Greece, France and Cyprus, even accusing them of supporting terrorism.

As the time for the Summit rapidly passes, on December 10 and 11, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Nikos Dendias intensify with interpersonal communications the pressures for the creation of those conditions that will lead to the disarmament of Turkey during the Summit. Already on Tuesday, Kyriakos Mitak participated in a teleconference with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, his Slovenian counterpart, Janez Jansa, and the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Igor Matovic.

The objective of the teleconference was to prepare for the next European Council, on 10-11 December, which also includes EU-Turkey relations.

The two camps

According to several analysts, there appear to be two trends within the EU and everything shows that according to the data so far the realistic scenario is the imposition of “light sanctions”.

In particular, there is a group of countries including Greece, France, Cyprus, Austria, Luxembourg, Ireland and the Czech Republic that seek to impose severe sanctions on Turkey.

On the other hand, there are countries with prominent Germany, but also Spain, Holland, Sweden, Finland and Italy that prefer little or no sanctions in Ankara as the most ideal option for their economic interests and not only.

On the Eastern Mediterranean front, Athens stresses that the withdrawal of “Oruts Reyes”, who has returned to Antalya since Sunday, is not enough and requires commitments under Ankara’s international law, through contacts with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Chancellor Nikos Dendias in the near future to focus on this goal. Brussels and Berlin also acknowledge that the two months between Ankara’s movements were not as expected.

“Everything on the table”

Commission spokesman Peter Stano said that at the next meeting “everything is on the table”, with the Commission making the necessary preparations and awaiting the decision of the leaders of the EU Member States on the direction to follow. in Ankara stocks and announcements. He clarified that at the Summit “there will be no review in the context of an announcement or in the context of an action, but based on actions, announcements and behaviors during a specific period,” with stakeholders awaiting decisions and Athens speaking. for measures, but to avoid the word “sanctions”.

NATO took its position …

The NATO Secretary General expressed his commitment to strengthening the de-escalation mechanism during the press conference following the end of the NATO Foreign Ministers teleconference, which was characterized by the catalytic intervention of Pompeo and the attack on Tsavousoglu. .

“We have proceeded to create a de-escalation mechanism between Greece and Turkey, a communication line between the two allies and the cancellation of specific military exercises.” I am committed to strengthening this mechanism so that there are comprehensive confidence-building measures. ” Jens Stoltenberg said.

Referring to the canceled military exercises in Greece and Turkey, he noted that it is “something that shows that we can, when we sit down and work on these issues, proceed with confidence-building measures.”

Tsavousoglou Delusion

Following his initial remarks at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, during which he spoke about the future of the Atlantic Alliance and Afghanistan, Turkey’s foreign minister, apparently upset by the position of the former US secretary of state, he spoke out against the United States and France. .

In particular, according to the information, Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu reiterated the accusations against the European operation “Peace”, saying that the recent incident did not happen by chance shortly before the European Council.

He then spoke out against the United States, expressing his “regret” that the United States was “against Turkey”, supporting the “maximalist positions of Greece and Cyprus” and supporting “terrorist organizations”, while saying that Germany was the only. Honest Ombudsman.

Speaking of France, Tsavousoglu said that “the French position in Libya is the greatest threat to the cohesion of the Alliance.”

He concluded his speech, according to the same information, saying with clear irritation that the Minsk Group within the OSCE is biased in favor of Armenia.

Pompeo’s “Slap”

Earlier, the US Secretary of State in an unusual intervention by NATO data in the context of the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers, stressed that Turkey opposes the principles and functioning of the Alliance, thus undermining its cohesion.

In particular, he underscored the provocative actions, as he called them, by Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean, Libya, Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Mr. Pompeo went on to say that the acquisition of the S-400 anti-aircraft system is a “gift to Russia” from a NATO ally. The US Secretary of State also concluded by saying that the de-escalation mechanism, which is not working because of Turkey, should be restarted.

It is recalled that in an interview with the New York Times, published last January, the new US president had described Erdogan as “emperor”, emphasizing that the United States should support its opponents to push him to the polls. . “You have to pay a price,” he used to say.

This price could cause major geopolitical changes. In addition to the threat of sanctions, potentially severe sanctions could be imposed at any time due to Turkey’s provocative behavior, there are also unresolved differences over the status of Kurdish fighters in Syria, Turkey’s naval claims in the Mediterranean and elsewhere. .

And in general in Ankara they are preparing for a four-year hell in terms of relations with Washington.

Dendies of satisfaction

The need for all allies to adhere to the fundamental principles of NATO, such as democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, at a time when authoritarian and revisionist states are openly violating international law, threatening regional stability and in the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya and the Caucasus, highlighted the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, during his speech at the Summit of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the North Atlantic Alliance.

Non-existent on maximalism

In particular, according to diplomatic sources, the Chancellor welcomed the report of the Meditation Committee on “NATO 2030”, which was formally presented at the meeting, highlighting that all Allies, without exception, have an obligation to protect transatlantic cohesion and strengthen regional cohesion. stability.

Referring to the criminal and provocative behavior of Turkey, as reported by the same sources, he reiterated the firm positions of our country and at the same time expressed his satisfaction with the clear position expressed by the Secretary of State of the United States, who underlined the role destabilizing Turkey. .

Mr. Dendias added that he does not comment on the non-existent accusations of “maximalist positions”, adding that if behavior under international law is maximalist, then NATO is maximalist.

Threat to regional stability

He also stressed that all allies, including of course Turkey, must demonstrate in practice their commitment to key NATO principles, such as democracy, respect for human rights and respect for the rule of law. Furthermore, he said, this need becomes even more urgent at a time when authoritarian and revisionist states are openly violating international law, threatening regional stability and transatlantic cohesion in the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya and the Caucasus.

He concluded by citing the same diplomatic sources saying that he was pleased that the report of the Meditation Committee made special reference to the need to resolve disputes on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations and the fundamental principles of international law.

Cyprus Inclusion

Referring to the strengthening of the strategic autonomy of the European Union, he stressed that it would further strengthen the transatlantic link and stressed that the strengthening of relations between the European Union and NATO can and should be done, but with the main objective of including both. countries. organizations, starting with Cyprus, and with full respect for the autonomy of each organization.

Finally, diplomatic sources point out that since this meeting was the last presence of the outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Nikos Dendias thanked him for his commendable contribution to strengthening the already excellent bilateral relations between Greece and the United States. promote bilateral defense cooperation.

Turkey does not stop the challenges

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy made provocative new statements accusing Greece of refusing to enter into a dialogue.

Responding to a question about the evolution of the level of Greek-Turkish relations after the withdrawal of Oruc Reis, Hami Aksoy highlighted:

“As you know, Turkey is in favor of unconditional dialogue with Greece. In fact, an agreement was reached to resume exploratory contacts with Greece, but the date of the meeting could not be determined, as Greece took a step back due to that Oruc Reis was in the field.

“The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has informed us that Oruc Reis has completed its activities in the eastern Mediterranean and returned to Antalya on November 29, 2020. Turkey will remain open to dialogue without preconditions, as it is to date.”