Eastern Med Conundrum
Q&A
Tassos Symeonides
(RIEAS Academic Advisor)
Copyright: Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 5 May 2019
Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS).
Turkish belligerence in the East Med is going through yet another spasm of loud sabre rattling and threats of military action. Are we on the throes of an aggressive war in the Aegean aiming at grabbing Greek territory and forcing a “solution” of what Ankara perceives as a “violation of Turkish inalienable rights?” How should Greece react?
History tells us that when a habitual aggressor, like Turkey, goes into yet another round of ranting and raving about “inalienable rights” it is either confident it can win or almost certain it is losing. Hitler in the 1930s correctly estimated the cowardice of Britain and France that allowed him to achieve spectacular territorial advantages without firing a single shot. In contrast, president-for-life Erdogan of the 2000s finds himself surrounded by intractable crises, most of his own making, and with minimal space for effective maneuver....Read more