Turkey’s ambitions in Libya and Eastern Med. again in spotlight

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 12:11

A war of words about Turkey’s role in the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya is growing in the Middle East. This war of rhetoric is designed to raise alarms in Europe and the US about how Turkey has threatened Greece and also threatened Egypt and others. The visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Cyprus was greeted with smiles in Greece and also the Gulf where media has covered his statements about Turkey’s “concerning” actions.

Everyone is a Turkey watcher these days it seems, as Ankara seeks to continue to stir up tensions using a research vessel and claims to energy rights across the Mediterranean. Turkey has muscled its way into recent meetings with Europe, even after having slammed European countries, insulted France and done everything it could to burn bridges. Turkey’s attempts to play both sides, acting as a kind of arsonist and then also bringing the fire extinguisher, has gained it attention and also gained it access to more and more meetings with its role is being debated and various means or thought of to how to either confront or appease Ankara.

The latest news is that Ankara is still stirring the pot in Libya where it seeks to undermine the Egyptian backed Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi even as its own Turkish-backed Tripoli government has internal problems. Turkey would also like Russia’s support against NATO and the US. The US has expressed concern about Turkey sending mercenaries from Syria to Libya but the US is also worried about Russian aircraft in Libya. Russia supports Haftar. Both Russia and Pompeo have now expressed interest in Cyprus. The US is ending an arms embargo. France is working on defense deals with Cyprus. Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov was also there. It appears Cyprus may be the most important country in the Eastern Mediterranean now. A “prize” for everyone involved. That is why Turkey has military drills with Northern Cyprus, which it occupies.

Hamas is also plinking away at the Eastern Mediterranean. Less important, but it is showing off its missile range by new test firings. This is an attempt to show that after its meetings with Ankara and trip to Lebanon that Hamas has a larger role to play as well. Iran’s media emphasizes this face, showing Iran wants to use Hamas to grow its influence as well. Might Iran, Qatar, Turkey, Hamas and Hezbollah be seeking to work more closely together on some of these issues, especially because of shared hostility to Israel?

What is clear is that daily Turkey’s role in the Mediterranean appears to be cultivating crises. At the same time media in the Gulf is laser-focused on Ankara’s role in Libya and what might come next. The US is also deeply interested in Cyprus and Libya now. That means that these conflicts are connected and it is important to see where Turkey’s next move is in regards to the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya.

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