What was discussed with Zelensky in Washington was bolstering Kyiv against a Russian counter attack, which many in the Ukrainian government and military expect in spring.
In this fluid political terrain, it is important for Greece to maintain clear judgment and calm and make strategic choices, monitoring changes without compromising its values.
Erdogan clearly indicated that he got what he wanted from the deal regarding Sweden and Finland, and that declared he would leave the summit with his 'hands full'.
Erdogan has been harshly critiicised by the opposition Republican People’s Party and a segment of the Turkish media over his failure to secure a US commitment on how Ankara will recoup the $1.4bn that it has paid for the purchase of American next-generation F-35 joint strike fighter jets.
'President Biden reaffirmed our defense partnership and Turkey’s importance as a NATO Ally, but noted U.S. concerns over Turkey’s possession of the Russian S-400 missile system. He also emphasized the importance of strong democratic institutions,' the White House readout said.
The nationalist opposition, which for over a decade has been pushing Erdogan to claim “the islands that Greece occupied” now is pressuring him to send the Turkish seismic vessel Oruc Reis to research areas included in the illegal Libya-Turkey memorandum delimiting their EEZs.
Biden has made no secret of his consternation with Erdogan on a range of issues from his purchase of the S-400 Russian missile systems in defiance of the US to Ankara’s role in Libya, and its hostile and expansionary policy in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In the name of his predecessor's 'America First' doctrine, US President Joe Biden decided to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan without consulting with America’s allies, and he signed the AUKUS agreement with the UK and Australia without briefing France and the rest of the EU.
The withdrawal of the US now confronts Europe with yet another pending issue – the creation of a European army. A united Europe will either become strategically autonomous or dissolve.
China is losing no time in exploiting this situation in order to further increase its commercial power. It is already contributing to shaping the largest global free-trade agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
For its part, the EU is pushing “in a gradual manner” its positive agenda (updating of the Customs Union, etc.) aiming, intera alia, at speeding up changes Ankara must undertake on many levels.
To grab the opportunity Athens must bolster its economic, diplomatic, and defence forces in this extraordinary post-pandemic world. We are lacking in the economy, but we have an opportunity on the diplomatic chessboard.
Over the last decades Greece and Turkey had alternating periods of lesser or greater tensions. Hence, a coldly calculated approach to diplomacy is one of the greatest advantages and the Greek side should cultivate it.
Still, Turkey maintains the second largest army in NATO and remains a critical, regional US ally and undoubtedly the difficult path toward a modus vivendi is pressing for both sides.
Circumstances necessitate that we see this Summit as a restart of NATO, with Greece as an organic member, after the erratic Trump administration.
As regards the political terrain in Greece, main opposition Syriza appears to be rushing to build new alliances and to don a new cloak. In the morning the party loves US President Joe Biden. In the afternoon it is close to the Eurosocialists.
Although it is too soon for such comparisons, there are serious indications that Biden will close the cycle begun precisely four decades ago by Ronald Reagan and will become the “grandfather” of a more social democratic America.
The era when Turkey developed its comprehensive aggressive strategy unhindered, ignored its past and displayed outbursts from high-level government officials with the air of a pampered child of great powers is over.
Τhe presence of Russia's PM Mikhail Mishustin at the bicentennial celebrations in Athens - the highest-ranking foreign leader to attend - given the chill in bilateral relations is noteworthy.
President Sakellaropoulou underlined the seminal role of some of the great powers – Great Britain, Russia, and France – in defeating the Ottomans and of the great philhellenes in turning the tide of public opinion in favour of the Greeks.
President-elect Joe Biden must create the necessary conditions for American citizens to regain their trust in injured institutions, laws, and the achievements of democracy.
Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan enjoyed a privileged relationship with Mr. Trump, who never hid his admiration for his Turkish counterpart.
Trump's team was dealt another blow with the completion on Sunday of recounts in Wisconsin's two largest counties that confirmed Biden won the hotly contested state by more than 20,000 votes.
Για μήνες πριν τις αμερικανικές εκλογές αλλά και τις κρίσιμες ημέρες της ιστορικής ψηφοφορίας, η δημοφιλής πλατφόρμα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης, γέμισε από θεωρίες συνωμοσίας, παραπλανητικές πληροφορίες και ψευδείς ειδήσεις
'The Trump administration must press Turkey to refrain from any further provocative actions in the region against Greece, including threats of force, to create the space for diplomacy to succeed,” Biden said.
Διαχειριστής - Διευθυντής: Λευτέρης Θ. Χαραλαμπόπουλος
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