Eastern Mediterranean: Geopolitical hot spot due to energy

The reasons for the great competition in the eastern Mediterranean were analyzed in a panel at the 7th Delphi Economic Forum.

Andrew Novo, a professor of Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. while the situation is exacerbated by gas explorations.

The professor estimated that economic, political and energy competition will continue in the eastern Mediterranean. “Energy has been at the center of tensions for years,” he said, noting that the sector has unifying forces, but also creates a breeding ground for competition and hostility.

Referring to East Med, he said that it included environmental costs, so it became more expensive than it is and that Europe did not want to go further, as he believed that there were cleaner options.

Finally, when asked by Professor Soli Özel from Kadir Has University about rising energy and grain prices, he expressed his concern, estimating that countries that import large quantities and have less efficient economies will be more affected.

As a solution, he suggested either ending the war in Ukraine as soon as possible or providing food and raw materials from countries with food resources, such as the United States, to suffering countries.

In fact, he described as more effective assistance to Ukraine with training and education of its armed forces, possibly with the provision of missiles, despite the economic sanctions that, he said, could be applied later.

Ian Lesser, vice president of the German Marshall Fund in Belgium, has identified a fundamental change in US relations with Turkey in recent years, which he said has shaped America’s role as a balancing force between Athens and Ankara.

However, he noted that any US presidency would reaffirm its role in the region, although efforts would be needed to restore relations with Ankara. “As a major ally in NATO, we are of the opinion that we can bring Turkey back,” the professor said, although he assessed that Ankara would not impose sanctions on Russia.

Regarding the developments around Ukraine, he focused on the issue of Europe’s energy security, saying characteristically “I can not imagine Europe returning to the previous situation with Russia”.

SYRIZA MP Giorgos Tsipras described the existence of bridges of communication with Turkey as positive, noting that the recession will be real if there are moves, which he said he does not see from Ankara.

In fact, he referred to the systematic violations of Greek airspace and the insistence of Turkey to put forward the same agenda as in the previous period.

The MP described the eastern Mediterranean as a geopolitical hot spot in recent years due to energy competition, estimating that it will take several years to solve Europe’s energy problem and become energy independent from Russia.

Finally, he estimated that if there is a tendency to de-globalize due to the developments in Ukraine, there are two scenarios, one is the restriction of China’s expansion and the other is the formation of camps that can bring us closer to new crises.