ISTANBUL AYDIN UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Political Science and International Relations
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi ÖZÜM SEZİN UZUN
TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY

‘’Analyze the roles of energy in Turkish foreign policy, focusing on

the developments in Eastern Mediterranean.’’

B1606.050024
Aleyna Gün
 A Fresh Breath
In order to explain the role of energy in Turkish foreign policy, we must first examine the
issues in the Eastern Mediterranean in depth. So let's get started; Disputes between Turkey
and Greece if it comes after the pre-Ottoman period to the date of today. No matter how alike
we are, we are just as different from Greece. For years, we come across in many things, from
politics to culture, from whom to what food comes out. If an endless tension line fires a spark,
all bridges will burn and all relationships will be destroyed. In our last incident, the Eastern
Mediterranean issue, this current issue, has become the longest tension between the two
countries in the last 46 years. Both Turkish, Greek and world media produce conspiracy
theories and headlines every day about the point where these bilateral relations will go.

In order to understand what happened today, it is necessary to go to yesterday. In the 15th

century, Greeks were almost completely under Ottoman rule, with some exceptions. However,
they became the first independent state to leave the Ottoman Empire afterwards. Of course,
they were able to make this possible with the coalition of Britain, France and Russia. So much
so that not even a Greek came to the head of the Greek Kingdom, they imported the Bavarian
Prince. Then they adopted the view they call "Megali Idea". This is an understanding that
aims to revive the Byzantine Empire by placing the regions that have been under the rule of
the Ottoman Empire and have been related to Greeks since antiquity and have been related to
the Greeks. They made all their strategic and critical moves on the basis of this understanding.
The ideal of annexing Cyprus, called Enosis, to Greece is one of them. Already in 1928
started one of the issues can be designated as tension between Turkey and Greece. In 1931,
Greek Cypriots under British rule started an uprising with the request of Cyprus to join
Greece. The tension escalated in 1958 when the terrorist organization Boyaka came from
Greece and targeted Turkish Cypriots, and on December 24, 1963, 24 Turks were martyred.
Greek gangs burned and plundered Turkish villages. EOKA, with the support of Greece,
carried out a coup on 15 July 1974 and when Cyprus declared the Greek Republic, "Ayşe
went on vacation" for the safety of the Turks who were here on 20 July 1983. With the
establishment of the Republic of Turkey and Rauf Denktaş becoming the first president, my
income got a little quieter. But this was not the only voltage, Greece and Turkey relations has
gone through many times between 1974-2019 crisis. In 1976 Turkey's research vessel had
many problems, starting with seismic sequence. 12 secretly arming of the island, Turkey's
Çandarlı ship to Greece's continental shelf to violate the claims of Greece's Treaty of
Lausanne recognition of their territorial waters to 12 miles wishes to remove, Imia crisis,
Greece providing sheltering leaders of the so-called terrorist organization efforts and more.
Despite the occasional positive relations, Athens and Ankara were generally at such a tense
course. Now there is the Eastern Mediterranean event. The Oruç Reis ship sent to the field by
the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in the Eastern Mediterranean is on duty to
discover valuable natural gas reserves, because in recent years, estimated reserves that will
not change the balance of the world in this region but will be important for individual
countries have been discovered. Greece claimed that the Oruç Reis ship's research for these
reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean was actually within its own continental shelf, but in
fact, Greece is not even the riparian state of the Eastern Mediterranean. However, as claimed
by Greece's place is 2 kilometers from Turkey to Greece soon, they say that over 500
kilometers off the island of Meis; "We have the right to a continental shelf and Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) on this island". The continental shelf is the part of the rock that forms
a country geologically until the extension of the under the sea ends and the line where the
ocean begins. The name given to the maritime zone in which a state in the Exclusive
Economic Zone has special rights in exploration and use of marine resources, including water
and wind power. In short, Greece says that if there is anything near Meis Island, it is the right
of my state, which does not even have a Mediterranean coast, that the Exclusive Economic
Zone it claims actually corresponds to more than the island's own area. not satisfied, and even
that Turkey violated the rights due to Greece's research in this area suggests, whereas Turkey
has 1800 kilometers of coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, 370 kilometers entitled
Exclusive Economic Zone. In this case, Meis Island, which is 2 kilometers away from us, is
actually in our region, which is normally not granted or restricted for such islands. For
example, exclusive to the island, which Morocco at the foot of Spain not entitled Economic
Area 27 November 2019 Turkey Libya and the continental shelf, as well as including the
Exclusive Economic Zone of 'Sea Jurisdictions Limitation Treaty' other name (Memorandum
of Understanding ) had signed. This was obviously cut out the front of the Greece's ambitions,
he had the approval of the United Nations and on the other hand, Turkey has achieved a
psychological advantage over Greece. However, Greece declared that it sees the region south
of Crete, Karpatos and Rhodes Islands within the continental shelf. Arguing that the
agreement is not valid under international law, Turkey has demanded the termination wherein
the hydrocarbon operation. He sent warships to the region, then signed an agreement with
Egypt, just as he did with Italy. This agreement was registered as null and void by the Turkish
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was announced that this understanding will be put forward on
the field and at the table. Navtex; The Oruç Reis ship, sent to the field by the Ministry of
Energy and Natural Resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, announced navtexes one after
another. Navtex; It is a stimulant that includes all ships, military and civil, of a state that
dominates a certain area, such as continental shelf, territorial waters, Exclusive Economic
Zone. This may be relevant not only in the military field but also in meteorology, security or
exercise. Navtexes ensure that all ships can navigate the developments that may be notified
and safely, and they are bound by both the declaring country and other countries. At the same
time, the Turkish Naval Forces increased the security provided to Orç Reis. With the
intervention of Germany's Chancellor Merkel, who leads the term presidency of the Council
of Europe, Erdogan decided to withdraw the ship for a period of 3-4 weeks as a sign of
goodwill, but the coordinates of where the ship will work with a new navtex after Greece's
attempt to reach consensus has been reported and it has been announced that seismic studies
will begin. This time, our Ataman and Cengizhan ships will accompany Oruç Reis. In Turkey,
a NATO member Greece, two countries that scares everyone to come face to face with a hot
conflict. Normally, the US intervenes in the tension between NATO member countries. It was
the same in the Kardak crisis, but this time America announced that it would not be done
because it was dealing with other problems. Greece already wanted to get the support of the
European Union and the United States, but Turkey continues to demonstrate clearly its stance,
even with the support of the opposition on this issue because it will not stop attacks against
Greece. It announced the list of sanctions to Turkey and Turkey's economy will face it. The
armament of the island of Meis was also recorded, but this was also denied from Athens and
explained that what was observed, not armament, was the shift of the guard force. Previously,
it was predicted that the work of the Oruç Reis ship would be terminated on 1 September, but
the working time was extended until 12 September with a final navtex. It does not back down
in two countries. NATO secretary-general that Turkey and Greece have agreed to conduct
technical talks to prevent conflicts Explain came in on it from Greece denials, now all these
tensions can say that the most dangerous strain, though in recent years the Eastern
Mediterranean event in the form of intimidation away from the remote. The confrontation
between two NATO member countries is extremely dangerous both for these countries and
for the world. But this is also a fact that Turkey do not have such an attitude because he wants
to protect the right of withdrawal. To briefly mention other countries after Greece; Many
countries have coasts in the Eastern Mediterranean region, to give an example; Turkey,
Greece, Syria, Egypt, Israel, GCA, Cyprus, Libya and Palestine is. Every country that has a
coast in this region wants to have a share of the energy in this area, even Russia, which has no
coast, wants to get a share thanks to its presence in Syria. something that is important to
remember that most of Turkey's natural gas is exported. Therefore, this opportunity is
Turkey's indispensable. Turkey, '' Turkey Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) 'energy has the
authority to initiate studies. Thus, the Greek Cypriot administration in the South has been one
of Turkey's first tension experienced by the country. Even in 2017 after the GASC not allow
to make calls in Italy and France in order to work in the region has commissioned the first
ship in 2018 Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha in Turkey. In addition, the pipeline project (East-Med)
in the region is wanted to be implemented by Israel, Greece and the GASC.

As a result, we can say that there is a tough bloc for this energy in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Moreover, we should not forget the press conference held by Foreign Minister Mevlüt
Çavuşoğlu and Greek Minister Dendias on April 16, 2021. Turkey also wants to maintain a
policy of peaceful negotiations with the primary relationship that the EU wants to justify
Greece's back is understood in every sentence. Besides, Turkey is willing to be at the center
position due to the geopolitical situation. After reaching an agreement with Libya, the other
country is now trying to determine a common point with Egypt. If the result is positive, a
peaceful settlement with Israel is inevitable. The Eastern Mediterranean can be a good starting
point for this economic crisis that the world has recently experienced due to the epidemic.
That's why the Eastern Mediterranean is "a breath of fresh air" for every country.