Cyprus-Forum.com

[repulsewarrior]

...here is the map that Erdogan refers to,

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/origin ... y%20Turkey

The maritime agreement demarcates an 18.6-nautical mile line as the maritime boundary separating the two countries’ respective self-declared exclusive economic zones (EEZs). These EEZs overlap Greece’s self-declared EEZ, which extends about 15,000 square miles to the south and southeast of the Greek island of Crete. The Turkey-Libya boundary overlaps Greece’s EEZ northeast of Crete. Some argue that the resulting boundary overlaps with other nation's declared zones render the agreement illegitimate and invalid.

According to the military cooperation agreement, Turkey will initiate a comprehensive training and equipment program in Libya after the establishment of a Rapid Reaction Force for police and military functions. If requested, a joint Office of Defense and Security Cooperation can be established, which is perhaps the legal basis for Turkey’s potential deployment of troops to Libya. The agreement also authorizes joint activities between GNA and Turkish forces in the areas of military intelligence and maritime patrols and surveillance. Turkey has agreed to cover all expenses stemming from implementation of the agreement.

Meanwhile, Ankara is ready to conduct deep sea drilling with the GNA or by itself in Libya's EEZ and is considering procuring a third ship for such exploration. Its Fatih is currently carrying out exploratory drilling in the Gulf of Carpentaria, east of Cyprus, and the Yavuz is doing exploratory drilling in an area close to the Greek Cypriot Block 7.

If necessary, Ankara is prepared to use gunboat diplomacy around Cyprus and south of Crete in the Libyan EEZ to defend the rights it now asserts based on the Nov. 27 agreement. Ankara claims to be ready to dispatch a task force of one frigate, several patrol boats and submarines. At the same time, it is open to negotiations with Greece and Egypt to search for a diplomatic solution to problems stemming from the boundary in the maritime agreement.

In short, Ankara’s approach to the Eastern Mediterranean is that with gunboat diplomacy and its military prowess, it won’t allow the hatching of a game plan that sidelines Turkey. All the actors that matter in Ankara — Erdogan, those around him and the security and intelligence bureaucracies — have reached a consensus on supporting gunboat diplomacy to back Turkey’s strategic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Anadolu, Turkey’s first multipurpose assault ship, will be fully operational in late 2020. Turkish security experts say that it will be deployed southeast of Crete to enforce the agreements with Libya and protect Libya's maritime zones against Greek violations in its view. in short, Ankara appears willing to deploy gunboat diplomacy around Cyprus to the Crete-Libya maritime border.

A security source indicated to Al-Monitor that after a Dec. 15 meeting in Istanbul between Erdogan and GNC President Fayez al-Sajjar, the Turkish military had begun preparations to send troops to Libya. The government has instructed the military to begin work on the ships and planes needed for the first deployment, which will include two or three naval underwater assault and defense teams and a company from the Turkish Marine Brigade (around 100 soldiers). The source explained, “The deployment will be limited to providing training and consultancy services to the GNA without any combat mission, and the deployment might be carried out in two weeks.”

The question now is how serious Ankara is about militarizing the Mediterranean situation and possibly escalating to military confrontation. According to two security experts and one energy expert in Ankara, it is “serious, very serious.”

It is not clear that Ankara engaging militarily in Libya will deter Hifter or halt his forces' advance. That said, one should bear in mind that in the thinking of Erdogan and his political decision-maker associates and the security bureaucracy, Libya is rapidly becoming a new Syria, and they do not want to make the same mistakes in Libya. Given this, Turkey should commit itself preemptively, including militarily if necessary, and support the GNA to the end.

Of note, Erdogan’s close ideological ties to the GNA, which has affiliations with the Muslim Brotherhood, and the geopolitical concerns of Turkey’s security bureaucracy about the Eastern Mediterranean are mutually reinforcing. In the past, the two have usually disagreed on Libya.

Moscow is actively supportive of Hifter, and Ankara now needs to ascertain the stance of the United States and the Europeans, especially France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, which in recent weeks have been exhibiting a pro-Hifter attitude. The Donald Trump administration is in contact with Hifter while keeping mum about Turkey’s relations with the GNA. The lack of a US reaction, either pro or con, to the Turkey-Libya accords is puzzling. Would the United States one day support an alliance with Turkey against Russia in Libya or opt to back Hifter?

This situation brings to mind the alliance debates in northern Syrian in 2014. At that time the Barack Obama administration in cooperation with Turkey and Qatar launched a train-and-equip program for local elements to topple President Bashar al-Assad. We all know how that turned out.

Does Erdogan’s assertion that Turkey can send soldiers to Libya if a request is made point to an alliance on Libya in the making? More important, where does the United States stand on Libya? It is unlikely the world will have to wait very long to find out.



Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/origin ... z68KJrDsZ6

[Paphitis]

Greece is just confirmed how it will confront any Turkish Drilling Vessel in its EEZ.

They described that there will be 3 stages.

STAGE 1: Greece to inform Turkish Diplomats that any Turkish Vessel acting illegally in its EEZ will be ultimately intercepted and warned to cease its operations immediately.

STAGE 2: Greece will intercept any Turkish Drilling Shop and thgraten it to cease immediately and leave the area.

IF THIS DOES NOT Occur

STAGE 3: Hellenic Navy will fire warning shots and eventually fire upon the vessel with the intent of ultimately sinking it.

Looks like Greece has doubled down and is saying they will sink any Turkish Drilling Ship that commences drilling in its EEZ.

It looks like things are getting real.

[Paphitis]

Greek PM is scheduled to meet with Donald trump in Washington on the 7th of December with some interesting announcements about certain armament procurement for the Hellenic Armed Forces, including Predator UAV Drones capable of loitering for 24 hours non-stop and also capable of carrying various missiles and guided bombs.

No doubt, Greece will also explain the latest developments.

It will be interesting to see what happens between US and Greek relations as a result of this very important meeting for Greece.

The current Greek PM is starting to impress me quite a lot.

[Kikapu]

Greek PM is scheduled to meet with Donald trump in Washington on the 7th of December with some interesting announcements about certain armament procurement for the Hellenic Armed Forces, including Predator UAV Drones capable of loitering for 24 hours non-stop and also capable of carrying various missiles and guided bombs.

No doubt, Greece will also explain the latest developments.

It will be interesting to see what happens between US and Greek relations as a result of this very important meeting for Greece.

The current Greek PM is starting to impress me quite a lot.

Greece might end up with Turkey's allocated F-35's.

[Paphitis]

Greek PM is scheduled to meet with Donald trump in Washington on the 7th of December with some interesting announcements about certain armament procurement for the Hellenic Armed Forces, including Predator UAV Drones capable of loitering for 24 hours non-stop and also capable of carrying various missiles and guided bombs.

No doubt, Greece will also explain the latest developments.

It will be interesting to see what happens between US and Greek relations as a result of this very important meeting for Greece.

The current Greek PM is starting to impress me quite a lot.

Greece might end up with Turkey's allocated F-35's.

I doubt it but who knows?

I am hoping Greece places an order for the F-35. Unlikely as they plan to upgrade the F-16 Block 52s and according to my source, it's a multi billion dollar upgrade.

My opinion is the money is better spent on new F-35s.

But Trump is capable of anything and could just offer the F35s to Greece just to piss Turkey off.

But Drones, Frigates, and Patriots are already on the table. Plus F-16 upgrade and the Mirage 2000 upgrade by the French.

[repulsewarrior]

[01] Erdogan: "We may increase UVAs in Lefkonoiko"
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (18.12.19-https://www.kibrispostasi.com/c35-KIBRISHABERLERI/n306310-erdogan-gecitkaledeki-ihalarin-sayisini-yukseltebiliriz) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan answering journalists' questions in Geneva where he took part in the 1st Global Refugee Forum, stated, inter alia, that the number of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UVA's) that have been stationed in the "TRNC" may increase if needed. "If a need arises in the future, the number of UVAs will increase. This step is very important", Erdogan said.

Asked to comment on the agreement that Turkey signed with Libya, Erdogan described this agreement as a lasting and historic issue. "These steps place the Treaty of Serves into the corner. It is that important", he said, adding: "If there is a need then everything can change. Libya is meeting its own needs. The military. security and cooperation agreement between us is further strengthening our solidarity", Erdogan said, adding that Turkey is ready to provide any kind of help to Libya when asked.

[Maximus]

End organ is spreading Turkey too thin on too many fronts and is making commitments he can ill afford.

Besides none of them making rational sense.

The Lira has been going to hell this month heading towards all time lows.

Next year, it will probably make new all time lows and spike in to oblivion again.

Before you know it, he will have a major domestic problems to deal with as well.

Like major.....some circles in Turkey are saying that the AKP has probably lost 25% of the vote come the next election.

Those members of that Party will likely be prosecuted when it all falls apart as it is currently under "mob rule.."

[Kikapu]

End organ is spreading Turkey too thin on too many fronts and is making commitments he can ill afford.

Besides none of them making rational sense.

The Lira has been going to hell this month heading towards all time lows.

Next year, it will probably make new all time lows and spike in to oblivion again.

Before you know it, he will have a major domestic problems to deal with as well.

Like major.....some circles in Turkey are saying that the AKP has probably lost 25% of the vote come the next election.

Those members of that Party will likely be prosecuted when it all falls apart as it is currently under "mob rule.."

Erdogan has this delusional thought that Turkey is a Super power.

[Maximus]

I was reading some articles on other media sites these past couple of days and the comments section is similar everywhere.

Turks spreading delusional propaganda and showing a mindset that is not fit for the civilized world they are making representations too.

Makes sad reading.

[Kikapu]

I was reading some articles on other media sites these past couple of days and the comments section is similar everywhere.

Turks spreading delusional propaganda and showing a mindset that is not fit for the civilized world they are making representations too.

Makes sad reading.

They are trying to convince themselves that Ottoman Empire is making a comeback.