Tuesday, July 30th, 2013 | Posted by WorldTribune.com
WASHINGTON — The United States must increase vigilance over Turkey amid the development of energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean, a report said.
The American Enterprise Institute asserted that Turkey could use its huge military to destabilize the eastern Mediterranean in the competition for natural gas reserves.
Turkey is said to have the strongest navy in the region.
The institute cited Turkish threats to use its Navy to resolve disputes, particularly with the Republic of Cyprus.
“Given its embrace of Hamas and agitation against Israel, the United States can no longer assume Turkey will help encourage stability in the region,” the report, titled “Will the Eastern Mediterranean Become the Next Persian Gulf, said.
The institute, in a report by Niklas Anzinger, said Turkey contains the strongest navy in the region. The report cited a threat by Turkey’s European Union Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis in 2011 use military force against Cyprus.
“Bagis and [Turkish Energy Minister Taner] Yildiz may not be among Turkey’s most diplomatically refined officials, but it would be negligent to ignore their threats.” the report said.
The report, dated July 25, said Ankara views both Israel and Cyprus as threats to Turkish energy interests in the Mediterranean. Turkey’s Navy is said to consist of 200 vessels, including frigates, corvettes, tactical submarines, fast-attack craft, amphibious vessels and logistics ships.
Turkey is expected to enhance its Navy and other military arms over the next few years. In March 2012, Ankara introduced a five-year strategic plan to make the country’s defense industry one of the world’s 10 largest by 2016, which the report said reflects the ruling Justice and Development Party’s ambition to wean Turkey out of the orbit of the European Union and the United States.
“Much as Iran and Saudi Arabia dominate the Persian Gulf, simple geography makes Turkey a paramount player in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the report said. “While the Persian Gulf littoral states, with few exceptions, profit from gas or oil, Turkey lacks indigenous energy resources. It has instead sought to cash in on its geographical position, which links the energy-rich Caspian Sea region to the energy-hungry West.”
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