International Competition and Cooperation in the New Eastern Mediterranean

Abstract

In the 21st century and particularly during the 2010s, the Eastern Mediterranean acquired unprecedented attention and significance as a distinct geopolitical space with new international and security dynamics. This “new” Eastern Mediterranean geopolitical order was largely “constructed” by global and regional power shifts as well as local developments, such as the trajectory of Turkish foreign policy and the discovery of offshore hydrocarbon reserves. The result was a change in the region’s patterns of interstate conflict and cooperation. On the one hand, countries such as Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, and Israel became part of an emerging network of cooperation and security architecture. On the other hand, owing to its problematic relations with these states, Turkey remained an outsider wanting to “deconstruct” this new state of affairs and change it to its own benefit. As such, the new Eastern Mediterranean was ushered in during a period of geopolitical polarization that is more conducive to crisis rather than peace and stability and often transcends its boundaries.

Changing responses to a frozen conflict: The Republic of Cyprus soft balancing vis-à-vis Turkey

“…Since the mid-2010s, the RoC has entered countervailing alliances with numerous regional actors, both within and outside the EU, to bolster its security guarantees against Turkey’s increasingly militarized foreign policy. By collaborating with Egypt, Greece, and Israel, Cyprus became integrated into ‘an emerging network of cooperation and security architecture’ in the Eastern Mediterranean (Tziarras, 2021). The trilateral agreements between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel and Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt constitute soft balancing (Tziampiris, 2015).…”

Geopolitical Transformation in Eastern Mediterranean; Restructuring Role of Greece and the Impact of Abraham Accord

“…The Mediterranean Sea interconnects Europe, Asia and Africa and is directly linked to America and Australia through the North Pacific Ocean, taking on enormous geopolitical significance and privileges, especially for the European Union and other world’s greatest powers (Tziarras, 2019, p. 6; van der Putten, 2016, p. 337). For the West, there exist vital interests in the Mediterranean which are related to ‘energy security … regional stability, the containment of religious extremism, the prevention of mass migration and the protection of Israel and other friendly regimes’ (Dokos, 2000, p. 95).…”

“…Coalitions of the Eastern Mediterranean were formed to cement military and security cooperation in the region and beyond as an initiative by Greece and Israel under the USA’s backing and encouragement, which aim to isolate Turkiye (and possibly Iran). In fact, the primary motivations of such alliances in the Mediterranean Sea are the ‘common perceptions of Turkiye as a security threat and energy-related interests’ (Tziarras, 2016, p. 407) which can be seen—at least in part—as a ‘balancing act in the face of Turkiye’s regional power projection’ (Tziarras, 2019, p. 6). This coalition changed the geopolitical equations of the Mediterranean region and engaged new trans-regional players in the security and military structure of the neighbourhood.…”

“…The geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean enjoys strategic relevance in two aspects of ‘energy’ (and economy) and ‘security’ (and military). ‘Energy-related interests’ and ‘security threat’ are the two main elements of the geopolitical transformation of the Eastern Mediterranean in the face of growing number of alliances in the strategic sea (Tziarras, 2016, p. 407; Tziarras, 2019, p. 5).…”

“…The main points of contention between Greece and Turkiye are the dispute over maritime zones (mainly EEZ) and airspace, the Cyprus issue, hydrocarbon research activities in the Mediterranean, the issue of the demilitarization of the Greek islands and the treatment of minorities (Tziarras, 2016, pp. 413–415; Tziarras, 2019, p. 6).…”