INTERVIEW
The diplomatic situation is tense in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey, which contests Greece's maritime borders, has sent a research vessel into waters officially under Athens control. In support of Greece, France has strengthened its military presence in the area. A gesture strongly denounced by Turkey. For Ariane Bonzon, journalist and essayist specializing in Turkey, a balance of power is being established, the stake of which could be the control of hydrocarbon resources in the Mediterranean.
Why does Turkey risk reviving a maritime dispute with Greece?
"This naval deployment is part of an overall Turkish strategy, that of projecting Turkey outside its territory: in Africa or in Central Asia", explains Anne Bonzon at the microphone of Europe 1. From now on, this desire for influence goes well beyond soft power, with facts on the ground and the establishment of military cooperation. "In the Mediterranean, Turkey seeks to impose a balance of power for its own benefit. What is at stake is the exploitation of oil or gas in this zone. Turkey, which has no energy resources and which depends on Russian and Iranian imports, wants its share of the hydrocarbons that could be extracted from the eastern Mediterranean. "
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Does the Turkish political class support the expansionist wishes of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan?
By carrying out possible wild drilling, Ankara hopes to counterbalance the Greek domination over the resources of the Aegean Sea. This strategy is widely supported by Erdogan's political allies. "President Erdogan has concluded an alliance with the ultra-nationalist, anti-Western, anti-NATO establishment, which is closer to Russia, to Asia," said Anne Bonzon.
Why did France immediately react?
"President Emmanuel Macron does not want to let Turkey do it, as the international community was able to let it do in Syria in 2019", indicates Anne Bonzon. "He considers that we must not leave the field open to Turkish expansionist aims, while saying that we must negotiate." France's response is symmetrical to Turkey's attitude: it deploys military ships on the ground, seeks to establish a balance of power before negotiating. "It's a classic technique in diplomacy," notes Anne Bonzon. "The problem is that if Greece applauds France, it is not really supported by the European Union and NATO."