For the Erdoğan regime, the gas dispute in the Mediterranean may have become a question of existence. Ankara is counting on foreign policy successes to legitimize itself domestically despite the escalating economic crisis. If Erdoğan had already tried to compensate for a possible failure in the Mediterranean Sea by "discovering" allegedly "huge" natural gas deposits in the Black Sea, the deposits there proved to be smaller than expected and, moreover, had been known since 2004. Now Erdoğan is once again playing the intrepid fighter for his neo-Ottoman ambitions and announces loud and clear that there will be "no concessions" in the gas dispute with Greece. Erdoğan plays with a possible warlike escalation among NATO states.

Erdoğan: Greece must avoid mistakes that could be its undoing

Most recently, the Turkish Navy had extended its deployment in the eastern Mediterranean on Greek territory. The Turkish warships are accompanying the research vessel "Oruç Reis" there to appropriate newly discovered natural gas deposits in the Greek exclusive economic zone in violation of international law. Erdoğan even threatened Greece to avoid "mistakes" that could be its "undoing.

France: Mediterranean no playground for national ambitions

France's defense minister Florence Parly warned the Erdoğan regime against abusing the Mediterranean as a "playground for national ambitions. The region is a "common good", Parly said.

Maneuvers in Eastern Mediterranean

Since Wednesday, France has been holding a maneuver in eastern Mediterranean together with Greece, Italy and Cyprus. The maneuver seems to be a clear signal to Turkey. In addition to three Greek F-16 fighter jets, three French Rafale fighter aircraft are also taking part. An Italian and a French frigate will join them on Friday. France itself has an eye on natural gas in the Mediterranean and is involved in the explorations on the Greek/Cypriot side with the energy company Total. Turkey does not recognize Cyprus and rejects the search for natural gas before a solution to the Cyprus question and without the consent of the Turkish Cypriots. Turkey has occupied and de facto annexed the northern part of Cyprus.

Maas: A small spark is enough for a catastrophe

Germany tries to cushion possible consequences for the Erdoğan regime and continues its appeasement policy with the dictatorship of Turkey. Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned of an escalation and called for a dialogue between Turkey and Greece: "The current situation is a game of fire and every spark, no matter how small, can lead to a catastrophe.”

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