Re:Israel, Cyprus and Greece agree to link power grids via s...
by simonh on Tuesday March 09, 2021 @06:14AM
(#26397698)
Israel has a complicated relationship with Turkey. The current islamist ruling party in Turkey is anti-Zionist and are keen on showing solidarity with the Palestinians.
On the other hand Israel and Turkey have mutual regional enemies and have collaborated both economically and militarily. Turkey manufactures and uses the Israeli Popeye missile under license, and I'm sure there are other collaborations I'm not aware of. Israeli teams have helped in earthquake relief efforts in Turkey. Historically the Jewish population of the Ottoman Empire were loyal subjects, because Ottoman hegemony provided them with security against their Arab neighbours.
So I doubt the Israelis are primarily doing this to spite the Turks, they're not exactly best buddies and it's useful to have leverage, but it's not in their interests to antagonise Turkey unnecessarily. I think it's just a matter of Israel looking after their own best interests in terms of energy security.
To be honest Greeks and Cypriots making life better for themselves doesn't have to be inherently a slight against Turkey either. I think the geopolitical dimension of this is over-baked.
On the other hand Israel and Turkey have mutual regional enemies and have collaborated both economically and militarily. Turkey manufactures and uses the Israeli Popeye missile under license, and I'm sure there are other collaborations I'm not aware of. Israeli teams have helped in earthquake relief efforts in Turkey. Historically the Jewish population of the Ottoman Empire were loyal subjects, because Ottoman hegemony provided them with security against their Arab neighbours.
So I doubt the Israelis are primarily doing this to spite the Turks, they're not exactly best buddies and it's useful to have leverage, but it's not in their interests to antagonise Turkey unnecessarily. I think it's just a matter of Israel looking after their own best interests in terms of energy security.
To be honest Greeks and Cypriots making life better for themselves doesn't have to be inherently a slight against Turkey either. I think the geopolitical dimension of this is over-baked.