Turkey

In recent weeks a dramatic escalation of tension around Turkish oil drilling rig presence in the disputed Exclusive Enterprise Zone surrounding EU member state Cyprus is taking place. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is claiming that Turkey has the right to drill not only in the waters off of Northern Cyprus, but also in waters far from there where Greek Cyprus has claimed rights. The actions, moving Turkish oil and gas drilling platforms into the waters, is creating a dramatic new clash in the energy-rich Eastern Mediterranean. The line-up of actors makes for a political Molotov cocktail of clashing interests that potentially pits not only Turkey against Cyprus and Greece, but also Israel and the USA, with Russia and China watching with keen interest. .

After the start of S-400 deliveries to Turkey, a respected German professor, international and foreign policy analyst Thomas Jäger plainly states:

The United States suspended Turkish pilots from training on F-35 fighter jets and demanded that they close the S-400 deal by the end of July.

For the second time in recent years, a great power has been putting forward an ultimatum to the President of Turkey. This time, he is asked to choose between NATO and Russia.