It's perhaps a bit of an exaggeration but looking at the
growing tensions within the EU, NATO, the Mediterranean, Balkans and the Middle
East, it's starting to look and feel a lot like 1914. Is war imminent? Probably
not, but the situation continues to degenerate, stability is in question,
people are talking about it, and scenarios are beginning to manifest in which
such a suggestion doesn't seem so far-fetched.
Mitsotakis, the new Greek president is taking Athens on a new
course. He's taken a more aggressive stance against Turkey and in terms of the
Libyan-Mediterranean situation has taken a decidedly pro-Haftar stance. And
thus in this case his positions are in line with the policies of France under
Macron and yet at odds with the rest of the EU. He's also taken a very positive
approach to Washington as the recent weapons deals indicate. Washington for its
part is happy to see Tsipras gone even though as a leader he was completely
compromised. His 'radical left' rhetoric was hostile to the Atlantic
Establishment but his actions were in subjugation to Berlin and Brussels. He
promised to break the austerity regime but instead strengthened it.
Ironically the Right-wing Mitsotakis (whose own family
history in connection to the Junta is somewhat fascinating) while rhetorically
and by all accounts ideologically in line with the Capitalist orthodoxies of
Brussels and Washington is nevertheless turning out to be a source of grief to
the EU leadership and apparently Angela Merkel. Her recent snub of Greece,
failing to invite them to the Libya conference was noticed by all. It was
degrading and furthered the Greek perception that Berlin views them as subjects
and second-class citizens of the EU.
Mitsotakis is carving out a unique niche, bucking the EU even
while staying on good terms with France. The divisions and tensions are
becoming overwhelming and the fact that Greece and Turkey (both NATO members)
are once more being set in opposition brings back some historical memories
(like the Cyprus crisis of the 1970s) that no one wants to revisit.
But while we focus on the European and Middle Eastern chess
pieces being moved, one cannot help but tremble for the people of Libya.
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