Erdogan's dilemma

Submitted by Stergios Bakas (Sweden), Mar 26, 2013 at 09:24

I don't think Netanyahu is an amoral leader, on the contrary he is a pragmatist and he knows that Israel is a small country, entirely dependent on the US for its safety. I think, he has been blackmailed of the simple reason that the Americans believe that Turkey is an ally to reckon with, when the day comes to confront Iran.

But, this is an American illusion and a wrong strategy. It opens the door to Turkey to ask for more, which is a complete hegemony in the region. Erdogan is a new Mithridates and he hopes that he can have a decisive roll that can give him the chance to become the moderator in the future conflict between the western world and Islam. But, at the moment, he has been entrapped in a genuine dilemma: can he promote his own future geopolitical goals without risking his present position within the frame of NATO alliance? Can he afford to survive against his own people, when the happy time with today's economic boom will end?

He has not a united people, he has not his own energy resources, he has not a given roll in the region, just only Blair's and Bush's and Obama's good will. I believe that Israel, Greece and Cyprus must remain united against any attempt from Erdogan's side to control the oil- and gasfields in the south and south-eastern Mediterranean sea. On the other hand, Greece and Israel must continue their close military cooperation, showing to Erdogan that there are other forces around and he is not alone.

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