Ankara flares up tensions in Mediterranean. Risk of military conflict

14/12/2019

Turkey flexes muscle as Greece and EU stick to international law

The European Union is siding with Greece in its maritime dispute with Turkey
by John Psaropoulos
Dec. 13, 2019
Relations between Greece and Turkey have been thrown into diplomatic crisis since November 28, when Turkey announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Libya outlining their maritime boundaries.
The memorandum traces a corridor of water between the Turkish and Libyan coasts that cuts across what Greece views as its islands’ maritime territory.
Read more at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/turkey-flexes-muscle-greece-eu-stick-international-law-191213175146069.html

Turkey and Russia vie for influence in Libya with troop deployments

By sending soldiers to the Libyan war, Erdogan may save Sarraj and position himself as a peace broker, analysts say
By Ragip Soylu
12 December 2019
The Turkish government’s possible deployment of troops to Libya may tip the balance of power in the country and could put Turkey in Russia’s crosshairs, regional experts and sources told Middle East Eye.
Yet, they say, it is more likely that Turkish and Russian troops in the war-torn country could see Ankara and Moscow become the brokers of a new settlement process.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced this week that his country would consider sending troops to Libya if its UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) makes a request.
Read more at https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkish-military-libya-russia-power-brokers

Moscow calls on Ankara, Tripoli to avoid stoking tensions in region

3.12.2019
Moscow on Tuesday appeared reserved over a maritime boundaries agreement signed between Turkey and Libya’s internationally-recognized government.
Speaking to reporters, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that a legal evaluation of the memorandum of understanding was not possible until the text has been examined.
“However, we have seen quite a strong reaction to the signing [of the agreement] from a number of Mediterranean states, primarily Greece, Cyprus and Egypt,” she said.
Read more at http://www.ekathimerini.com/247139/article/ekathimerini/news/moscow-calls-on-ankara-tripoli-to-avoid-stoking-tensions-in-region