Turkey approaches Israel on gas: Erdogan wants to involve Tel Aviv in the Exclusive Economic Zone. But there is the hurdle of Cyprus



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The Turkey search for Israel for the new business of the gas, but the road is all uphill. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to involve Tel Aviv in the exclusive economic zone by proposing a Israel-Turkey Maritime Agreement but what did you cut Cipro. Tel Aviv’s first response was that any proposal that comes at Nicosia’s expense is a do not start, out of the question.

This hypothetical approach is not a foregone conclusion, since with the strengthening ofalleanza Ryad-Usa-Tel Aviv Erdogan had declared himself a defender of the Palestinians and Muslims in general, officially transforming Turkey into the refuge of Muslim Brotherhood, since unofficially it already was, along with Qatar. But the question does not concern only the two countries, but the legitimate positions of Greece, Egypt and Israel on the pipeline Eastmed.

Why has the Ankara government considered establishing a link with Israel? Because, net of the enormous difficulties in the country’s financial system, Erdogan has understood that without a direct entry into the energy file, he will not have much hope of rebalancing his accounts and his leadership. The Turkish economy has faced two major obstacles in 2020: the health factor, like everyone else, and the lira depreciation. Of course, in the last period there have been small signs of recovery: the Turkish economy has outperformed all the nations of the G20 in the third quarter of the year, thanks to a combination of interest rate cuts, public spending, and government pressure for banks to make loans (with loan growth remaining strong throughout the summer).

But the ballast of the lira remains intact, which lost 24% against the dollar in 2020. The new governor of the Central Bank, Agbal was born, characterized the beginning of his mandate with an increase in interest rates in more than two years. Furthermore, Turkey’s European trading partners lost momentum in the fourth quarter due to various restrictions imposed to regain control over the pandemic, resulting in the exports they will contribute less to growth. Also, according to a survey Istanbul Barometer, registered by the Statistical Office, 87% of citizens admit that they cannot afford urgent expenses while 55.3% believe that their economic situation will worsen.

But there is also the Front of the EU play an important role: the European Parliament called on the European Council to continue in a “single” position against illegal actions of Turkey against Greece me Cipro It’s in impose sanctions. There were 631 yeses, with a request to act quickly. EU leaders will meet next Thursday for another summit, during which they will reexamine possible sanctions.

Turkey has repeatedly reiterated that it is willing to enter into talks with Greece on a wide range of issues affecting its relations, but at the same time Erdogan’s provocations are not stopping, as the Navtex a Kastellorizo It’s in Cipro.

Therefore, in light of this scenario, Erdogan has decided to involve Israel in the gas EEZ. The move follows a similar one four months ago, when Ankara officials sent their Israeli counterparts a brazen message about Turkey’s desire to start talks on the issue. The idea of ​​being diplomatically isolated in the new geopolitical axis of the world, the Mediterranean, new crossing of gas and gas pipelines, is imposing new routes on the Turkish president, after having imposed himself by force in Libya and in Syria. But his government is not characterized by diplomatic tones, far from it. “No sanction can ever compromise Turkey,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry tweeted in response to comments from the Greek counterpart. Nikos Dendias, very close to Israel, which complained about Turkey’s so-called expansive policies. The risk also continues on social media.

Twitter: @FDepalo



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