Turkish aggression is now being directed at Syria. Turkey already occupies parts of Syria and threats by Ankara to invade again have enraged the Syrian government. Syrian Kurds are backing the Syrian government as they view the Turks as the greater evil.
This is crucial because Turkey is also threatening Greece. The Turks are bullying Greece, Syria, and Armenia. It is natural that these three countries along with the Kurds should unite. There is talk about a possible war between Turkey and Iran.
Iran has always been close to Syria and does not want Turkey in Syria. Iran and Russia in fact humiliated Turkey by ensuring that President Assad and his regime would survive despite Turkish efforts to displace that regime. The decision by Athens to seize Iranian oil on behalf of the US and the west is proving to be a disastrous decision.
Greek-Iranian relations have always been good. After Athens seized Iranian oil, two Greek ships were seized by Iran. Greece does not need conflict with anyone at a time when the Turkish predator is making more irrational demands on Athens.
NATO is not supporting Greece. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said NATO will not intervene to stop Turkish aggression. He has in fact called Turkey a “reliable ally” despite Ankara’s aggressive designs on Greek territory. Also, Turkish refusal to permit Sweden and Finland into NATO has received no censure from NATO.
There have been some statements of support from France, Germany, and the European Union President Prodi. Not a bad thing but these statements of support do not guarantee anything in the event Turkey invades Greece. The State Department in Washington has expressed support for Greece’s territorial integrity.
At the diplomatic level, Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Dendias have done well. This blogger will concede that previous criticism of the Mitsotakis visit to Washington was a mistake. In light of Erdogan’s rage because of the warming relations between Greece and America, it appears the Mitsotakis visit was a success in the short term.
Over the long term, we will see how successful the visit really was. The question remains as to whether Washington will really help Greece in the event of war? Athens needs to stay close to Washington (for now), Paris, Berlin, and Brussels while opening discussions with Damascus and Tehran.
A tough balancing act. Greece needs to be on good terms with everyone (including Moscow). Who Greece aligns with should be dictated by who is against Turkish aggression? Greece is in great danger and Athens cannot afford to follow any government or alliance blindly. Who will support Greece?
That is the question.
One reply on “Who Will Support Greece?”
Great viewpoint. The NEOCONS/NEOLIBS are demonstrating-once again-they can be relied on to use other nations, but not to stand by them when the crap hits the fan. Ukraine is learning the cost of relying on the west-John McCain and Lindsey Graham promised a lot of support during a visit to Ukraine a few years ago, but now that Russia is winning the war and Ukraine is asking for Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in more weaponry-at a time the worlds economy is falling into recession-our State Department Elites have suddenly gotten cold feet.
Whatever your thoughts are on the war in Ukraine-and I have mixed feelings-it’s clear that Washington DC and western Europe are not to be relied upon for support. There is a lesson there for Greece. Further, the Economic Sanctions on Russia have been largely ineffective in the short term. Why? Because several key nations including Turkey, India and China have ignored them. America no longer occupies the moral high road around the world to lead on coordinated policy-we’ve lost that due mainly to our unjustified wars against Serbia, Iraq and Afghanistan. The NEOCONS/NEOLIBS have tarnished America’s good name.
Greece does have some strong cards-this is an election year in the USA and the Democrat Party is lining up to take a MAJOR pasting at the polls. As a key ethnic constituent of the Democrat Party, Greek American voters carry a lot of weight-the Dems don’t want to piss them off ahead of the election. That was largely behind the Mitsotakis meeting with Biden and the Congress and it is not insignificant. In a conflict with Turkey the Greeks should be able to count on SOME material support from the USA and American allies in western Europe. How much is up in the air, but Greeks will have to do the fighting. As long as they’re provided with sufficient material support I have confidence they can defend themselves against Turkey and enact a heavy cost-Turkish armed forces are concentrated on Offense, their Defensive capability is a sieve.
Mitsotakis and Dendias need to do what they are doing, advancing Greek interests while shoring up material support for Greece in event of War. Menendez and the Dems will surely provide that at least until November and Greece has promises from the French and other nations to help out. IF Greece is provided sufficient spares/replacements I believe they can prevail in any conflict with Turkey-it’s up to the Greek government to assure that material support is available.