France, United States and Emirates wary of Turkish ambitions in the eastern Mediterranean
Although Turkey's foreign and expansionist policy is not new, reactions against it from Western leaders are now beginning to materialise. Emmanuel Macron held phone conversations on Friday with Donald Trump and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and assured on his Twitter account that his views are close to those of these two leaders regarding Turkey's expansionism in the eastern Mediterranean and Libya. All three leaders reject the drift taken by Turkish foreign policy.
"Our views are close. Our common interest is peace and security. We will ensure that they are respected," Emmanuel Macron explained in a tweet posted on his profile on Friday. Macron posted this message after Turkey accused his country of "intimidation" in the eastern Mediterranean and threatened Greece.
Despite warnings from the West and its allies in the Middle East, Turkey has not rethought its expansion into the eastern Mediterranean, ignoring international calls on the need to stop illegal exploration activities. In fact, the Eurasian nation has already begun exploration in the eastern Mediterranean this week.
The amendment to Turkey's attitude has also been echoed across the Atlantic. The White House has issued a statement announcing that U.S. President Donald Trump shares France's concern about Turkey's aspirations. Trump and Macron held a telephone conversation on Friday to agree on their position on foreign policy issues regarding Libya or Turkey.
The eastern Mediterranean has witnessed strong tensions this week with Ankara sending an exploration ship accompanied by two military vessels to an area rich in gas reserves and which Greece claims as its own. Athens condemns what it considers a violation of its maritime space by Ankara, as the Turkish search ship is deployed to the south of the Greek island of Kastelorizo. But Turkey refuses to acknowledge that this small island, two kilometres off the Turkish coast and more than 500 kilometres from the Greek coast, limits its scope for movement.
Despite warnings from the West and its allies in the Middle East, Turkey has not rethought its expansion into the eastern Mediterranean, ignoring international calls on the need to stop illegal exploration activities. In fact, the Eurasian nation has already begun exploration in the eastern Mediterranean this week.
The amendment to Turkey's attitude has also been echoed across the Atlantic. The White House has issued a statement announcing that U.S. President Donald Trump shares France's concern about Turkey's aspirations. Trump and Macron held a telephone conversation on Friday to agree on their position on foreign policy issues regarding Libya or Turkey.
The eastern Mediterranean has witnessed strong tensions this week with Ankara sending an exploration ship accompanied by two military vessels to an area rich in gas reserves and which Greece claims as its own. Athens condemns what it considers a violation of its maritime space by Ankara, as the Turkish search ship is deployed to the south of the Greek island of Kastelorizo. But Turkey refuses to acknowledge that this small island, two kilometres off the Turkish coast and more than 500 kilometres from the Greek coast, limits its scope for movement.