Erdogan pursues aggressive policy in the Mediterranean: Francis Ghilès

Francis Ghilès, associate fellow at the Barcelona Center for International Affairs (CIDOB), has said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pursuing a more aggressive policy in the Mediterranean, but added that the situation may turn against him easily.

Turkey has been at odds with regional countries and the European Union by sending drilling ships within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus (EEZ).

Ankara insists that it has the right to prospect off the coast of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, an entity recognized only by Turkey.

Turkey signed a Mediterranean maritime agreement with the Tripoli-based Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) late last month, which angered Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, all of which confirm that the agreement violates international law.

Ghilès stressed that France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Russia and the United States have plans that contradict Turkey’s goals across the eastern Mediterranean.

Erdogan has succeeded in neutralizing his US counterpart Donald Trump on many issues, including Turkey’s purchase of Russian air missile systems and evading Iranian sanctions, Ghilès said, adding that Trump adopted a softer strategy toward Turkey in order to prevent a further escalation of tensions in bilateral relations.

Ghilès said that this has worked well so far, but cautioned that arrogance can easily generate miscalculation.