Tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean: Athens continues its diplomatic marathon

The head of Greek diplomacy Nikos Dendias is due to meet this Friday in Vienna with his American counterpart Mike Pompeo (photo). Andrew Harnik / Pool via REUTERS

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The head of Greek diplomacy Nikos Dendias is due to meet this Friday in Vienna with his American counterpart Mike Pompeo, as part of a diplomatic marathon undertaken by Athens to mobilize the international community on Greek-Turkish tensions in the eastern Mediterranean. Not sure that he will win his case with Washington, because the French support displayed for Greece vis-à-vis Turkey worries the Pentagon.

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Two Rafale fighters and two French Navy vessels in the eastern Mediterranean, this French military deployment worries the Pentagon: "  We would like to see the tensions decrease  ", these are the words of the US Department of Defense on Thursday.

On this specific issue it is with Angela Merkel that Recep Tayyip Erdogan has chosen to speak, an interview between the two leaders took place on Thursday.

Not a word from the Turkish head of state on this issue vis-à-vis France, but a violent charge against Emmanuel Macron about his trip to Beirut, accusing him "  of wanting to restore colonial order in Lebanon  ".

Emmanuel Macron, last July, had for his part had very harsh words against Turkey, accusing it in particular of having "criminal responsibility" in the Libyan conflict. France, which denounces Turkey's regional ambitions, is struggling to find allies.

Turkey still intends to grant new exploration and drilling permits in the eastern Mediterranean by the end of the month.

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  • Greece
  • Turkey
  • France
  • United States