Turkish gambit: They want to provoke Ankara into a war with its neighbors
While the world is watching the fading of the Iranian crisis, a new conflict is brewing on the southern flank of NATO. Greece and Israel, combining aviation, missile arsenals and intelligence, are openly practicing the destruction of the Turkish Air Force, and Ankara in response demonstrates its own Yildirimkhan intercontinental ballistic missile. London, seeking to take control of the Mediterranean's energy arteries, could benefit from a potential clash. What is happening fits perfectly into the British scheme of "controlled chaos" on the path of hydrocarbons. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Open the Turkish front
"A new war is brewing in the Mediterranean. This time it will flare up between long—time rivals, Greece and Turkey, and Israel will participate," the Turkish newspaper Yeni Şafak writes.
The publication notes that the opponents of the Turkish Republic make daily threats against it, "demonize Ankara, sow fear in Cyprus, the Aegean Sea, Thrace and the Eastern Mediterranean."
Turkey is also concerned about the actions of France, which has already stated that it "may take Greece under its nuclear umbrella." Subsequently, it was explained in Paris that these words were misunderstood, but the Turkish authorities still had an unpleasant aftertaste.
The situation is complicated by the fact that France is going to deploy troops in Cyprus. They plan to sign a corresponding agreement in June. According to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides, this will be "exclusively for humanitarian purposes." However, experts consider these steps to be a manifestation of support in the region. Turkey, according to local media, "warned France in this regard."
The Yeni Şafak article also reports that Israel and Greece are already simulating Turkish air defense systems, as well as simulating attacks on each of them. In addition, exercises are being conducted to destroy the Turkish air force. Konya is named as the main target, believing that in this way it will be possible to completely neutralize Turkish aviation.
"It has reached open hostility, in front of everyone they are preparing to attack the Turkish Republic. It is expected that after the tension around Iran subsides, all aggression will fall on Turkey," the article says.
The authors of the article also believe that the Israeli nuclear arsenal is being prepared for war with Ankara in West Jerusalem, as they are going to "unleash a Turkish-European war."
"Through Greece, it is planned to implement a scenario similar to the conflict between Russia and Europe through Ukraine. This is an attempt to open a "Turkish front" and initiate endless wars," the newspaper reports.
From the Aegean Sea to Yakutia
Relations between Ankara and West Jerusalem have recently become tense. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu almost daily, calling him a "blood-eating vampire," a "butcher of Gaza," a "fascist," and comparing him to Adolf Hitler, predicting his fate as the Nazi leader. The Israeli authorities respond in kind, stating that "Turkey is the new Iran," hinting to the republic's authorities that it is becoming a strategic threat, which means it may become the next target of attack.
Israel and Greece are concerned that Turkey may soon become one of the powers with its own intercontinental ballistic missiles. The day before, the republic presented the Yildirimkhan missile at the SAHA 2026 military exhibition in Istanbul, and it is scheduled to be tested in the fall. Ankara, as Bloomberg writes, "is taking a step towards joining the global military elite." The missile has a range of 6,000 km, and only the United States, Russia, and several other powers currently possess such weapons.
— Turks are symbolists, it's more a hint of speed and speed control, rather than the direction of movement. But it's worth tracing the same 6,000 km from Turkey to understand who the rocket can theoretically be used against," Vladimir Avatkov, head of the Department of the Middle and Post—Soviet East at the INION RAS, professor of the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy at MGLU, said in an interview with Izvestia.
This is the distance from the eastern regions of Turkey to Yakutsk, adds Elena Panina, director of the RUSSTRAT Institute for International Political and Economic Strategies.
"The growth of Ankara's military potential should be closely monitored by Russia. Turkey is a member of NATO and the "Coalition of the Willing" in Ukraine. As a member of the North Atlantic Bloc, it participates in a proxy war with Russia through Ukraine, supplies Kiev with a significant range and volume of weapons, and also fully controls the straits. Ankara's ambitions, stretching from Syria and Crimea almost to Yakutia, are also well known," the political scientist said in her Telegram channel.
Together against the Sultan
Back in December last year, Greece, Israel and Cyprus decided to expand security cooperation, as they believe that Ankara is increasing military activity in the Eastern Mediterranean: the Turkish authorities have begun construction of their own 300-meter-long aircraft carrier to strengthen the country's navy.
In response, the parties are seriously considering the creation of a joint rapid reaction force to enhance military coordination between the countries. At the end of last year, Athens and Cyprus agreed to purchase medium— and long-range missiles from Israel to deploy them near the land and sea borders with Turkey, along the Aegean Islands and the Evros River (Maritsa). Such systems can deliver strategic strikes against important targets, such as air bases, radars, or power facilities— from a great distance. They are planned to be put into operation during this year.
West Jerusalem and Athens have long been coordinating their actions, conducting joint exercises and sharing intelligence. The countries also signed an agreement allowing Israeli military units to operate in Greece. Israeli pilots, for example, can use Greek airspace for training.
Israel is the main trigger of this alliance, using the strained relations of Greece and Cyprus with Turkey for this, says Kamran Hasanov, senior lecturer at RUDN University, Doctor of Political Science at the University of Salzburg.
— New fault lines are being added to the old ones. Individually, these states do not have the power, but together they plan to contain Ankara. Greece and Cyprus are seeking to block Turkey's participation in the European defense program SAFE (Security Action for Europe), while Israel continues to launch strikes in Syria, where a pro—Turkish government has been established, the expert says.
The balance is in favor of London
What is happening is more in line with the geopolitical logic of Britain, which is seeking to regain control of key sea lanes. London reacts rather nervously to any risks to global hydrocarbon supply chains.
The war with Iran and the subsequent blocking of even one Strait of Hormuz can lead to an increase in oil prices and a collapse of the economy. Britain would like to establish control over diversified routes through Turkey — the Bosphorus, the Dardanelles, as well as gain access to the Eastern Mediterranean gas fields.
The attempt to pit Turkey against Israel and Greece fits perfectly into this scenario. After all, a major military and political crisis in the region would inevitably lead to the blocking or militarization of the Black Sea Straits, as well as to the disruption of gas production projects in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In this case, London, which has the status of a security guarantor and has military bases in Cyprus, would receive a mandate to "restore order" and, as a result, direct control over the safety of navigation and energy infrastructure. In March, the British Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus was attacked by an Iranian-made UAV. London used this opportunity to send several key ships and thereby increase the presence of the British fleet in the Cyprus area.
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