Mediterranean and Arab countries hold "Friendship Forum" without Turkey 

The relationship between Greece and Turkey has gone through various stages throughout its history. Today, it can be said that the relationship between the two countries has reached a point of regression, and the tension between the two countries is palpable. 

The first meeting of the Philia Forum (Friendship Forum) between Mediterranean countries was held in Athens on Thursday, with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in attendance. France also attended the meeting as an observer. 

Participants said the forum aimed to "enhance cooperation on security, health, energy and environmental protection for the region from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Gulf". 

The Philia Forum comes at a time when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to defuse tensions with the European Union, which has threatened to impose sanctions on Ankara if it does not resolve the dispute with Athens, undermining Turkey's economic woes, exacerbated by the pandemic. Added to this is the uncertainty over its future relationship with the US now that Joe Biden is president.   

"We agreed on this format of dialogue and cooperation, henceforth called Philia Forum, building friendship, peace and prosperity from the Mediterranean to the Gulf, which is effective, but flexible and open to other countries in the region and beyond," says the joint note published after the virtual meeting of the heads of diplomacy of the member states of the new format. 

The relationship between Ankara and Athens continues to show its ups and downs. It is a complicated alliance that has become strained to the point of unimaginable tension, especially over hydrocarbon exploration in the eastern Mediterranean. But despite the many frictions that may exist between the two powers, both Greece and Eurasia realise that they need each other in one way or another. 

Erdogan has not made it easy for Greece; his expansionist ambitions have only increased differences with EU member states. Moreover, the clashes with Greece have caused a complete rift within the EU. 

Turkey's exploration for hydrocarbons in disputed waters has been one of the main sources of tension between the two countries. Turkey has even sent specialised drilling vessels accompanied by Turkish navy ships, which has led to increased tensions and heightened diplomatic tension. Greece argues that its small islands scattered across the Aegean should be taken into account when delimiting its waters, something Turkey rejects. 

Meanwhile, Greece has increased its defence budget to modernise and upgrade its armed forces, a decision accompanied by an increase of 15,000 troops and the extension of compulsory military service from nine months to one year as long as tensions with Turkey continue. 

"Greece's ambition is to become a bridge between the eastern Mediterranean, the Gulf, the Balkans and Europe," the Greek foreign minister said on Thursday after a forum in Athens with his counterparts from Arab and Mediterranean countries. 

Turkey faces a very delicate situation. On the one hand, it has been experiencing economic weakness for years due, among other things, to the unchecked fall of the lira. A reflection of this fragility was the sale of 10 per cent of the Istanbul Stock Exchange to Qatar in order to obtain some liquidity. 

The Turkish president has no alternative. He must broaden his alliance and seek the support of other countries to stay at the helm, as a change of course does not seem feasible and the economic situation aggravated by the coronavirus does not help either. 

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy on Thursday shared a written statement on the Philia Forum meeting in Athens (Friendship Forum). Aksoy first recalled that no "Forum" on the region that does not involve Turkey, a key country, and the Turkish Cypriots can claim to be successful. 

"At the press conference after the forum, when it was stated that no country was targeted, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias made unfounded comments and accusations against Turkey. The proof that this forum, which is supposed to be based on friendship, is an initiative to create an alliance around hostility towards Turkey," said Hami Aksoy. 

Similarly, Aksoy recalled that Turkey has repeatedly called for the organisation of a regional conference on the Eastern Mediterranean, with the participation of all sovereign countries, including the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In this context, the adoption of such an approach is a sign of hostility towards Turkey, he argued, adding that it 'sabotages the EU's efforts for unity in the Mediterranean'. 

On the other hand, the upcoming presidential elections may pose a problem for Erdogan if the opposition manages to stay united and pull through, despite the police and judicial harassment to which it is subjected, which has resulted in the arrest of several leaders and public representatives. 

To try to deal with all this domestically, Erdogan is pursuing a major regional expansionism with a strong presence and interference in regional conflicts, such as Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh and Syria, as well as increasing pressure in the Eastern Mediterranean area, where he has had frictions with Cyprus, Greece, France and Germany. 

Al presidente turco no parecen afectarle todos estos contratiempos, pues sigue firme en su intención de interferir en el desarrollo de los conflictos para aumentar su influencia y obtener beneficios.