By Antonis Anzoletou

Erdogan, with his victory in the recent elections, left no room for questioning his absolute sovereignty in the neighboring country. Despite the bad economic situation in which Turkey is and the earthquake in Antalya, he manages to close his cycle in the presidency, as he wishes.

It is recalled that he has pledged that he will not be a candidate for the highest office for the fourth time. Many are already questioning this commitment given the new Constitution revision he is promoting. He has two “thorns” in front of him in the next period: The first is the intense inflationary pressures which, according to analysts, are not going to deescalate to a single digit number, even if he himself supports it. Interest rate hikes are one way to control the continued rise in prices.

The second is the self-governing elections in March where the opposition, as in the previous ones, will try to pressure him in the metropolises of Istanbul and Ankara.

Inside the country, he showed from the start with a fist move that he will not allow anyone to challenge him by making major changes both in the leadership of the police and promotions in the military leadership. With these data in relation to Greece, it is not expected to put aside the nationalist crowns, threats and show of force in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The political year that begins will be critical for Greek-Turkish. Already the new mission of the floating drilling rig “Abdulhamid Khan” in the Eastern Mediterranean is indicative of his intentions, but he does not seem to want to affect the positive climate that has been recorded recently. It will be within the Turkish potential continental shelf and so far everything seems to be fine.

What does he want to show? How at any time he wishes he can cause a crisis and pressure in Greece for the six months that NAVTEX has been issued. The choice of time and space is not accidental, as during this period the dialogue on the possibility of recourse to The Hague is expected to take place between the two countries. For now, he presents a good face in relation to Greece without the same happening, however, with Cyprus.

Indicative was the move of Devlet Bakhtseli, who, on the occasion of the incidents in Pyla, Cyprus, appeared wearing military boots over his suit. The video he uploaded was accompanied by the phrase “Cyprus is Turkish” and the skepticism on the Greek Cypriot side is very great.

The diplomatic bargain with the neighbors will unfold in the next period, as the F-16s that Turkey wants to buy from the US are already on the negotiation table, while the issue of new bases from the US on Greek territory has also been opened. The Turkish side insists that its goal is to highlight the positive agenda with all countries with which its interests are common.

The processes between the Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministries have intensified in order to prepare the meeting between G. Gerapetritis and H. Fidan before the UN General Assembly in New York in September where the Mitsotakis-Erdogan appointment is considered almost a given.

The two leaders will be in the US from September 18 to 23. This will be followed by the holding of the Supreme Cooperation Council in Thessaloniki, which is considered particularly important.