The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean is becoming very tense. Turkey is doing oil mapping at sea, in waters that are contested by a fellow NATO Member State – Greece. The oil vessel is escorted by several Turkish warships. And now France has responded to a Greek appeal and is sending navy assets to the region. This situation can easily escalate and become an open conflict. It must be dealt with by the NATO and European authorities immediately.
The
truth of the matter is that Europe does not have a clear line of approach
towards Turkey. Delaying the accession negotiations or approving a light
package of sanctions against the regime in Ankara is not an effective policy
line. A firmer position is required. The European leaders must understand that
President Erdogan is a major threat to the stability of Europe. In addition,
they must realise that someone of his calibre does not understand a soft
approach. He knows about force and can get the message if the message is
forceful.
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