Author: Edwin Tran
Affiliation: Geopolitical analyst
Organization/Publisher: Encyclopedia Geopolitica
Date/Place: February10, 2020,
Type of Literature: Analysis
Word Count: 1404
Link: https://encyclopediageopolitica.com/2020/02/10/storms-in-the-eastern-mediterranean-gas-basin/
Keywords: Geopolitical storm, Turkey EEZ, Mediterranean Basin.
Brief:
This analysis focuses on the Turkish geopolitical movements in the Eastern Mediterranean. Due to a rich hydrocarbons’ basin in the Mediterranean Sea, a number of Mediterranean states focused heavily on these resources and hinted at further alignment against Turkey. In response to these developing alliances, Ankara has also proceeded in cultivating alliances and increasing its hard power projection. With its foreign military bases deployed in north Syria, Iraq, Qatar and Somalia, Turkey`s response was seen not only as a political action to support its claim in the Mediterranean, but also Turkey seeking a more independent foreign policy. Further, the most marked action was Turkey`s involvement in Libya siding with the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), resulting in an oceanic exclusive economic zones (EEZ) agreement between the two nations. In the same vein, the back and forth Eastern Mediterranean claims of each nation have surged political tension between Turkey and the Gas Forum countries. The escalated tension between Turkey and its rivals makes the outlook of the Mediterranean murky and violent. The belligerence has begun at a time when Turkey knows straining ties with the US and Russia. For the other Eastern Mediterranean rivals, Jordan and Lebanon have sunk in debt crises, Egypt with its high population experiencing high unemployment rate, Israel faces a political gridlock, and Greece has declining social services and rampant unemployment. For all of these countries, the Mediterranean basin provides a significant reprieve that each country looks forward towards.
By: Imad Atoui, CIGA Research Associate.
