“Bells” in Athens from Italy: “Turkey wants to control the Mediterranean and the Balkans” – they want Greek-Italian cooperation

Italian expert analysis Gabriel Marchiona as Gaetano Mauro Potenza, The security advisors, about Turkey’s real plans in the Mediterranean, should awaken Hellenism more for one reason only, the reason that tells us that the Greek state (not so much Egypt, or Israel, etc.) is the main obstacle for the Turks in their Ottoman march new.

They themselves, in an important analysis of energy projects in the Eastern Mediterranean, mention the following:
Turkish aspirations to make their country a regional power in the Mediterranean region take the form of three basic guiding principles:

1. To expand and consolidate their exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

2. Acquiring the role of entry point for traditional energy sources in the Mediterranean.

3. At the same time returning through Greece to conquer the Balkans as a new “highway” for gas transportation.

What is the suspicious plan of the neo-Ottoman Turks

But for all this to happen, Turkey will have to advance its interests by imposing its military influence, otherwise it will not happen, while Ankara will have to politically control a group of countries in our region.

Italian experts emphasize this with great emphasis “It all relates” to a plan that has been at the center of Turkish politics since the time of Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople.
Indeed, with the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Ankara has strengthened the central position of the southern natural gas corridor.

Recent “incidents” involving the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea and the Amber network in northern Lithuania provide Ankara with ample opportunities to assert its role as an energy hub, isolating major energy competitors. from Rome and Athens.

In fact, both countries present themselves as potential interlocutors for the European Union, with different specifics, but if they are combined, in the interest of the European energy security framework, they can develop a common vision of the southern gas corridor independent of Turkey.

Ankara’s targeting of Greece is not only related to the pre-election campaign

Natural gas pipelines are already running from Greece to Europe, thanks to the Tap and Igb pipeline.

However, the RePowerEU plan envisages doubling Azeri gas supplies by 2027, via TANAP, once again making Turkey central to the entire effort.

Athens and Ankara, already vying for control of exclusive economic zones in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean, know the game is being played in managing natural gas supplies to the Balkans..

Once a future agreement is reached in Ukraine, it will become important to review the management of entry of goods and energy infrastructure crossing the Mediterranean into the Balkans to reach the EU’s eastern front.

In fact, Athens has obstructed the privatization of the port of Alexandroupolis, which is considered relevant to the country’s new strategic vision.

The region, in addition to being a NATO military logistics hub in Ukraine, is affected by the passage of the Tap natural gas pipeline and the connection of the Greco-Bulgarian gas pipeline, while it is the focus of new Greek energy strategies due to the two natural gas fields, at Alexandroupolis and the nearby port of Kavala, as well as in the project Natural gas regasification plant in the future.

All these are important advantages of Athens’ role in the energy field, especially if we consider it an alternative entry point for Israeli gas that must reach Europe thanks to the Egyptian LNG infrastructure.

And all of this also helps the EastMed gas pipeline, if that strategy intersects in a shared political vision with Rome.

However, Greece’s power grids must be upgraded to be able to overtake Turkey.

In this scenario, Rome can provide the knowledge gained by natural gas distribution companies for network digitization, which is profoundly transforming Italian networks in light of the widespread use of renewable gases such as hydrogen and biomethane, as well as beneficial benefits. technology in reverse flow.

Greco-Italian defense and energy axis in the eastern Mediterranean

The Greco-Italian axis is essential to building a renewed vision of the Southern Natural Gas Corridor.

The Italian leadership must take the form of the defensive guarantee on the energy issue with the countries already participating in EastMed, in order to innovate its vision in light of a potentially sensitive context. total war.

With Egypt too, a reassessment of Mediterranean LNG could begin in the EU.

ENI’s recent discovery in the Nargis field in Egypt points in this direction, which could help diversify sourcing from northern Europe if the existing energy infrastructure between Italy and Greece can be exploited.

In addition, climate change in the Mediterranean basin, along with investments to import other gases – vital methane and hydrogen – could help support LNG prices.

The European Union is now moving systematically in the eastern Mediterranean

On the sidelines of the seventh meeting of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in gas trade, transportation and exports between Israel, Egypt and Europe.

The agreement provides for the passage of Israeli gas through Egypt, where it will be liquefied and then exported to Europe, with the European Union supporting European companies in new exploration projects in both Israel and Egypt.

The deal could make Cairo a regional leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, even if — as industry analyst Martina Finochiaro points out — the deal must face major hurdles, such as the US pulling out of the project, high cost and construction problems. ‘, they conclude, among other things.

Greece, Italy, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus and France represent the new axis of cooperation in the Mediterranean, which is why a defense union must be established with special agreements, for the security of all energy projects related to these countries and the European Union, tomorrow morning. if it was possible.