Levent Kenez/Stockholm
Mesut Hakkı Caşın, the Turkish president’s advisor on security and foreign policy, has stated that it is unacceptable that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are participating in military exercises with Greece despite the warnings of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
A former air forces officer, Caşın also claimed that while F-35 aircraft were not delivered to Turkey even though it paid for them, the West is allegedly providing military support to Greece against Turkey in Cyprus, the Aegean islands and Alexandroupoli.
Caşın on Sunday attended the annual Islamic Union Congress organized by the Association of Justice Defenders Strategic Studies Center (ASSAM), a front organization run by private military contractor SADAT, which many believe is a de facto paramilitary force loyal to Erdoğan.
Stating that the Islamic world should be united, Caşın said, “This did not happen. We should be angry with ourselves, not the West, for this.”
“I am very sorry to say this, but although Mr. President expressed Turkey’s discomfort, Saudi F-15s have flown to Crete and joined exercises with the Greeks. The Egyptian navy is conducting military maneuvers with the Greek navy. How come? This is unacceptable,” he reproached.
Reminding that the Egyptian military together with the Ottomans stopped the entire Crusader navy in the past, Caşın added that “what Saudi Arabia is now doing against the Turkish nation, which was the flag bearer of Islam for 400 years,” is unacceptable.
Turkey’s efforts to improve relations with these two countries have not paid off, he added.
The military drill pointed out by Caşın is Falcon Eye 3, a joint 13-day training exercise with the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) and its Greek counterpart that was launched from the Hellenic air force base on Crete on November 7.
The RSAF is participating with six F-15s with all their air, technical and backup crews.
Col. Khalifa Al-Enezi, commander of the RSAF group taking part in the exercise, said it focuses on implementing several operations, including offensive and defensive counter-air and air support missions.
The Medusa exercise, jointly organized by the Greek, Cypriot and Egyptian navies, will be held November 19-25 off the coast of Alexandria in Egypt.
In March 2021 Erdoğan expressed his disappointment at Saudi Arabia’s involvement in a military drill with Greece, stating that he would discuss Turkey’s concerns with Saudi Arabian authorities.
For some time now Turkey has been trying to repair uneasy relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, with whom it has been on bad terms. Turkey experienced serious problems with the two due to the increasing support he gave to the İslamist Muslim Brotherhood, which Erdoğan sees as ideologically close to him.
After the murder of US resident and Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian Consulate General in İstanbul in 2018, Erdoğan harshly criticized the Saudi regime, targeting in particular Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). There was also an intensive campaign in the pro-government media against MBS, whom Erdoğan described as “a bloody-handed murderer.” In an effort to put MBS into a more difficult situation, the Turkish government shared the evidence obtained by Turkish intelligence with foreign media outlets. Erdoğan rejected the Saudi demand to share the evidence with them and claimed that it would be destroyed if he did.
In response to Turkish propaganda, Riyadh unofficially boycotted Turkish goods, a move that caused Turkish companies to lose a significant market share in the Gulf region.
However, when Erdoğan’s harsh policy towards two main Arab states resulted in Turkey’s isolation in the Islamic world, Turkey started negotiations to woo Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which demanded that Turkey take concrete steps to address their concerns. Turkey first asked TV stations affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood that broadcast from Istanbul to dial down their rhetoric.
Later, Turkey, in a disappointing move for many in the international community, ended the Khashoggi murder trial on April 7, 2022, saying that the suspects were already on trial in Saudi Arabia.
Immediately after Turkey’s gesture, Erdoğan made an official visit to Saudi Arabia, meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz and de facto ruler MBS on April 28. Claims by political observers that the termination of the Khashoggi case in Turkey was a prerequisite for the re-establishment of relations between the two countries proved to be right. MBS also returned the visit on June 22, receiving a warm welcome from Erdoğan, who even saw him off at the airport
In March 2021 Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu announced that diplomatic negotiations with Egypt had begun without preconditions. It was rumored by the Turkish media that the Egyptian delegation conveyed the message that it was in the hands of Turkey to ensure the development of the talks, implying concrete steps from Turkey.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh, on October 30, told local media the talks with Turkey were suspended due to the recent energy agreement Turkey signed with Libya’s Government of National Unity, which Egypt does not recognize. Turkey and Egypt support two rival groups in Libya, both of which claim to represent the only legitimate government.
Nordic Monitor previously reported that Caşın stated last December that the balance of power between Turkey and Greece changed following Western military assistance to Athens, adding that the Turkish military’s job has become more difficult. He also said air superiority had passed to Greece following its purchase of new fighter jets.
