The European Corsica Summit and Turkish Transgressions in the Eastern Mediterranean and their Regional Impacts
Turkish Aspirations:
Turkey is suffering from severe internal, economic, and financial crises related to the depreciation of the Turkish lira against the dollar. It is also experiencing high rates of financial inflation, while millions of Syrians, Iraqi, and other refugees in Turkish cities are waiting for a resolution to the crises in their countries. Turkey has a role in these crises in the Middle East and is trying to impose its hegemony in Syria to address its internal problems and crises as a step to escape forward. It also wants, through dominating al-Sharaa administration, to gain a share in the issues of Syrian refugees, and for its companies to contribute to reconstruction in Syria. Turkey is looking to obtain oil-rich areas in northeastern Syria and is waging a brutal war through its affiliated factions to enter the regions of Kobani, Ain Issa, and Tal Tamer. However, it is met with legendary resistance from the local population and the Syrian Democratic Forces. Turkey continues to present offers concerning ISIS and the fight against terrorism, as it claims, to the United States, the international coalition, and the Syrian administration led by Ahmad al-Sharaa. Erdogan aspires to establish Turkish military bases in northern and central Syria, and he also wants to delineate maritime borders in Syrian waters that contain billions of cubic meters of oil and gas. Erdogan is in a hurry to act before a constitutional and elected government is formed in Syria, before a comprehensive Syrian national conference is convened, and before a constitution is drafted for the country and legislative and executive elections are held in Syria.
Erdogan also seeks to arrange the internal Turkish affairs in order to win the upcoming elections and become a Turkish leader of the rank of Kemal Ataturk; for this purpose, he coordinated with Devlet Bahçeli, who proposed a meeting with Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan through Kurdish parties and Kurdish parliamentarians, so that the PKK would lay down its arms of resistance in a settlement aligned with Turkish national sentiment and the deep state within it. Through this proposed settlement, Erdogan aims to eliminate the Democratic Autonomous Administration in northern and eastern Syria, or reducing the influence of the Syrian Democratic Forces through Ahmad al-Sharaa, the head of Syria in the transitional phase, by offering proposals according to his agendas for integration into the Syrian army. There are attempts by the Kurdish parties represented in the Turkish parliament to visit Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in southern Kurdistan to stand on the Kurdish opinions and proposals. These Turkish aspirations that Erdogan seeks are difficult to achieve, if not impossible, in order to settle the internal Turkish situations.
Difficult Obstacles for Turkey:
As we previously mentioned, Turkey is attempting to dominate Syria, but it will clash with Israeli aspirations that will not allow it to establish bases in central Syria. Additionally, Turkey’s ambitions will conflict with some countries of the international coalition, particularly France, Germany, and Greece, which have expressed support for the Kurds and the SDF; these countries declared that the SDF is the one that has defeated terrorism, the Kurds are our partners in the coalition against terrorism, and they are more trustworthy than Turkey, and than the administration of Ahmad al-Sharaa in Syria, which still shows leniency, although in reality, there are many transgressions.
The European Summit in Corsica:
The European summit, which includes France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Malta, and Portugal, aims to put an end to Turkey’s transgressions in exploring oil and gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean in areas belonging to Greece and Cyprus, in the waters and territorial borders of the two aforementioned countries. Turkey claims that these areas belong to its continental shelf within its borders, and it has been continuing these violations for years, with the situation escalating from time to time due to provocative Turkish actions against Greece. Turkey draws strength from its Ottoman history when Greece was under its control in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and during the wars fought by Kemal Ataturk against the British and Greeks after World War I.
The summit, held on the French island and chaired by French President Macron, was referred to as the “MED 7” summit to restore balance in the eastern Mediterranean and bring Turkey back to its regional limits in Mediterranean waters. It seems that Turkey’s colonial appetite is increasing with the rise of its internal and political economic crises, and it exploits its geopolitical position and NATO membership as well as its military strength. Turkey may rely on Trump’s success in assuming the presidency of the United States to get its share of the oil and gas from Greece and Cyprus, as Erdogan exploits Trump’s desire to impose commitments on the European Union, which supports Greece and Cyprus, especially France and Germany.
Both Greece and Cyprus stand against Turkish ambitions in the eastern Mediterranean, and France has clearly stated, through strong statements from the French president, the necessity of putting an end to Turkish transgressions. Turkey described these statements as rude and France deployed warships and fighter jets in anticipation of Turkish escalation, which, when settled, quickly exploits any international and regional circumstances to return anew, especially during Erdogan’s term and his party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP). It is likely that the situation will not continue in this manner; President Macron has stated that Turkey is no longer a partner, and the Europeans will find a way to resolve this conflict through a conference to be held about Mediterranean gas and oil, involving specialized committees and scientists to clarify all the ambiguities and contentious issues between Greece and Turkey, and between Turkey and Cyprus.
Democratic Autonomous Administration and SDF Forces:
There is no doubt that the Autonomous Administration in northern and eastern Syria is aware of the Turkish ambitions and agendas in Syria, Iraq, and the Middle East. It is also aware of the Turkish plans and violations in the Mediterranean and the Libyan shores. The Autonomous Administration should strengthen its alliances with the European Union, especially France, and the representatives of the Autonomous Administration should play a role in enhancing the alliance with France, Germany, Greece, and Cyprus. There should be an increase in representation and cooperation with these countries in political, cultural, and military aspects, especially with the rising calls from some European voices demanding the expulsion of Turkey from NATO and blocking its future accession to the European Union, especially since most European countries are part of the international coalition against terrorism and the Islamic State (ISIS), in which the Syrian Democratic Forces played a significant role in defeating it in its last stronghold in Baghouz. Consequently, the statements of EU officials suggest that they owe a debt to the Syrian Democratic Forces, as well as to the United States; where former President Donald Trump made it clear that the Kurds defended America, Europe, and the world just as they defended themselves against terrorism.
