Two completely related news regarding our… NATO partners, Turkey and Greece, and a future NATO partner, Sweden.
GREECE – TURKEY RAPPROCHEMENT
In the aftermath of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s diplomatic visit to Athens, where he met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Turkish leader hinted at the possibility of a strategic alliance between the two nations in the realm of nuclear energy. Following discussions on Demember 6th and 7th, a draft roadmap was agreed upon, signifying a new chapter of improved relations between the historical adversaries and nominally NATO allies. Erdogan expressed optimism about bolstering ties among NATO allies during his five-hour working visit, characterizing the atmosphere of the meetings as “very positive.”
The proposed collaboration with Greece extends beyond energy to encompass various sectors, including nuclear energy. Erdogan suggested offering Greece access to the energy generated by a Turkish nuclear plant in Sinop. While Mitsotakis reportedly responded positively, specific details were not disclosed by the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy. Regarding unresolved maritime disputes, Erdogan maintained Turkey’s commitment to protecting its rights but suggested the possibility of a fair distribution of energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean through a regional conference of coastal states. The visit resulted in more than twelve cooperation agreements covering trade, energy, and education, as well as the announcement of a roadmap for future discussions to prevent bilateral crises.
TURKEY BLOCKS SWEDEN FROM JOINING NATO AGAIN
On December 8th, upon his return to Turkey from Greece, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suggested that the Turkish parliament may not ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO unless the United States Congress approves the sale of 40 F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. The U.S. has indicated a reluctance to approve the jet sale until Turkey supports Sweden’s NATO admission. There’s a good reason for that: In July, Erdogan stated that he would support Sweden joining NATO, and as a result, the Congress approved the sale of F-16s to Turkey. However, Erdogan reneged on his promise, leading to the freezing of the sale once more.
Regarding Turkey’s strained relations with the U.S. and Canada over restrictions on drone camera sales, Erdoğan mentioned talks between Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and counterparts from regional countries. He also expressed a desire for the U.S. to reconsider its stance on Israel in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, hoping that discussions with the contact group could exert pressure for peace.
Erdoğan clarified that there is no planned meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden but expressed readiness for a conversation if Biden calls. The Turkish president also discussed the Israeli attacks on Gaza with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his visit to Athens, urging Greece to support the U.N. General Assembly’s vote for a ceasefire.
