Turkish warships and fighter planes have carried out large-scale maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean, the Defense Ministry announced on Friday in an apparent show of force linked in particular to the conflict in Libya.
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Eight frigates and corvettes, as well as 17 planes participated Thursday in these exercises which lasted eight hours, on a 2000 km round trip from east to west, the ministry said in a statement. The exercise, dubbed " High Seas, " was " carried out successfully, " the ministry said, sharing photos showing F-16 fighters and radar planes taking off, and warships escorted by helicopters. The Turkish state media described these maneuvers as a “ show of force ”.
This exercise comes at a time when tensions are high in the eastern Mediterranean, between the conflict in Libya where Ankara plays a major role and friction between Turkey and Greece over Turkish drilling in disputed areas rich in hydrocarbons.
Context of escalating tensions
In Libya, Turkey supports the Libyan Union Government (GNA) of Fayez al-Sarraj, recognized by the United Nations, against the forces of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, a strong man from the East supported in particular by Egypt, the Emirates United Arab Emirates and Russia. The GNA has inflicted scathing setbacks on Haftar's forces in recent weeks, notably thanks to the support of Turkish armed drones and " military advisers " deployed by Ankara.
In this context, Turkey opposed Wednesday the control by a naval mission of the European Union of a cargo ship suspected of violating the UN embargo on arms deliveries to Libya. The freighter was escorted by Turkish military ships. The Turkish pro-government daily Yeni Safak also reported on Friday that Ankara could establish two bases in Libya, one southwest of Tripoli (Al-Watiya base) which would host drones and the other in the port city. from Misrata.
The maneuvers announced on Friday are also taking place against the backdrop of escalating tensions around the gas fields discovered in recent years in the eastern Mediterranean. For several months, Turkey has been increasing exploratory drilling off the coast of Cyprus, ignoring European pressure which calls it " illegal ".
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