The Big Picture: Turkey-Greece Tensions in the Mediterranean

Turkey's big push into the Mediterranean featuring gas drilling, tough rhetoric and warships rooted in a grand vision of a "Blue Homeland" is causing concern from EU neighbors. Fearful of being denied a fair share of the region's bountiful natural gas wealth, Turkey sent a research vessel and a small navy armada into seas Greece claims as its own, dramatically escalating tensions on August 10. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday announced that Turkey had made its biggest-ever discovery of natural gas in the Black Sea. France, already at odds with Turkey over Libya and parts of the Middle East, sent in its own ships into the region to help out Greece, prompting Erdogan to warn he would retaliate against any attack. Critics say the "Blue Homeland" doctrine is the latest example of Turkey resorting to disruption to coerce others into achieving what it wants. But Turkish officials and former admirals responsible for the policy argue Greece's demands based on a scattering of tiny islands are unfair since Turkey has larger mainland territory in the eastern part of the sea. In this edition of The Big Picture we will analyse the tensions in the Mediterranean.

Guest Name:-

1. Anil Trigunayat, Former Ambassador
2. Professor Ummu Salma Bava, Centre for European Studies, JNU
3. Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Foreign Editor, Hindustan Times

Anchor:- Frank Rausan Pereira

Producer:- Sagheer Ahmad

[DD-rulw]

TAKEAWAYS
1. 1996 Historical Tensions between them. Greece was a part of the ottoman empire. Hagia Sophia issue.
2. Natural Gas - being sidelined by other regional powers
3. Not being accepted into EU
4. Turkey intervening in Libya to divide the maritime potential. Italy, Malta, and Spain supporting its position. Egypt was about to go to war on Libya with Turkey.
5. Turkey is reinventing its identity as a leader, Ottoman legacy.
6. EU and the USA are distracted right now and Erdogan trying to be assertive. Germany is looking for de-escalation. Frontline Mediterranean states are in a precarious situation. Not ready to intervene but also not the migration.
7. Ironically Turkey and Greece are NATO members.
8. Turkey's economy is shattered. Erdogan thinks it is best to maintain some tension in the region.
WAY AHEAD
• Dialogue is the only solution.
• India is not comfortable with Erdogan, his association with Pakistan, and the Kashmir issue.
• Daily summaries Telegram channel: iassimplifiedchannel

[zekeyaeger]

Great discussion !! And as usual Pramit Pal Chaudhuri explains it very well

[gaisingduangonmei]

Good discussion especially from The Editor. Hats Off. Peace.

[mukeshastik]

thank you RSTV.. always enjoy hearing deep insight on big events

[adityavishwakarma]

Thankyou sir Frank
Sir please discuss the acquisition and cross servicing agreement between India and Japan

[alexlou]

Pramit Pal Chaudhuri could have not explain the situation any better. He is very educated on the issues and understand the moves that are being played by all actors. Great explanation and analysis.

[akashsaini]

Frank sir where do you active
I need to have talk to you 🙏🙏🙏
It's urgent sir

[Yprin]

The Turkish army is fighting Kurds who have not a tactical army for 30 years, and for 30 years they are unable to win. If Turkey dares to attack Greece, Turkey will go back 100 years

[umardharini]

Erdagon is a ADVANCED version of "Imran Khan"

[radhikatalekar]

You know you know you know.. irritated me so much.

[prateekyadav]

Also cover china India ongoing confrontation.

[nikmargarn]

Seems you genuinely care on the subject but these are sensitive issues. Thus although she is a Professor she gives wrong footing on the conversation: She says Greece was part of Ottoman empire. Before that era, Constantinople and Byzantine symbolized the center of the Christianity which was forgotten to be mentioned.

On Aghia Sofia, we do not claim it back. Its a heritage from historic, religious, architectural perspective and self dignity. The whole Christianity claims it back. Its part of UNESCO world heritage.

And Greece tiny islands? a professor would agree in a redrawing of the maps? what are the consequences of such a precedent?The will of the agressor should dominate? Greece "tiny" islands are protected by international laws, integral of Greek sovereignty.

Professor is apparently in awe with Erdogan's attempt for leadership in Med. But atrocities were committed by cleansing the greeks away from Aegean seaside, and you forgot to mention the turkish invasion in Cyprus, partitioning the island. Based on this Cypriot partition claims right on the oil & gas reserves.

Thank you