International balances control Western attitudes towards Turkey: international relations expert
CAIRO, Egypt (North Press) – ”The game of international balances controls Western attitudes towards Turkey,” Mukhtar Ghabashi, Vice President of the Arab Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently described Ankara’s resumption of drilling gas and the re-dispatching of a ship to the Greek border as “regrettable” moves by Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean.
This coincided with the EU’s promise, during European summit meetings, to sanction Turkey over its “provocative” moves in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“There is now a western trend…for Turkey and what it is doing in the fields of the Eastern Mediterranean, and sending a drilling ship in the waters of Greece,” Ghabashi said in a statement to North Press from Cairo by telephone.
Turkey withdrew its drilling ship Oruc Reis from the disputed waters of the Eastern Mediterranean last month. This is in order to “pave the way for diplomatic relations.”
A few days ago, Ankara announced the resumption of drilling gas and the dispatch of the ship, which Greece described as “an act of aggression and a serious escalation.”
“The international attitudes towards Turkey are not only related to the issues of the Eastern Mediterranean and what Turkey is doing, but it is also linked to Turkey’s NATO membership, to the issue of the S400, and the Incirlik air base that is very important,” Ghabashi added.
In his view, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is challenging the Western world.
“But this challenge means that Erdogan realizes that the Western world and the United States will not sacrifice Turkey for the benefit of the Russians.”
The political analyst belittled the impact of the US election on Turkey’s international attitudes.
According to Ghabashi ”The Western world is taking actions against Turkey.”
”The purpose of the actions was to sit at the table to reach understandings between Turkey, Greece and Cyprus,” he added.