Greece deploys sound cannons to shock and block migrants – TRT World

… TRT World spoke to at least 20 to 30 people ––mainly men, some women and children –– who were intercepted by Greece security officials while trying to cross into Kastanies, Greece. The names of the asylum seekers who spoke to TRT World have been withheld at their request.

Children among them were also sent back in the freezing temperatures, TRT World reporters witnessed.

The migrant flow does not only occur from the border, for the Aegean Sea offers the main route for reaching Europe.

However, Greek coast guards are known for their ruthless behaviour towards refugees. They have historically tried to sink boats trying to enter the Greek islands.

Greece deploys sound cannons to shock and block migrants – TRT World Read More »

Turkey’s Social Media Army on the March – Middle East Forum

In June, more than 7,000 Twitter accounts were linked to Turkey’s ruling party. Since then, the army of social-media accounts that cheer Turkey’s invasions and threats against Israel, the UAE, Greece, Armenia and other countries appears to have grown again. Evidence for the number of these accounts shows the systematic harassment of reporters who follow Turkey, dissidents from Turkey and anyone who is critical of the president of Turkey or the recent involvement of Ankara in the war against Armenia.

The accounts have certain commonalities. Most include images from Turkey’s history, including sultans such as Abdul Hamid II or sometimes symbols linked to far-right groups in Turkey such as the Grey Wolves. The accounts almost always include Turkish flags as symbols, similar to right-wing pro-Trump Twitter users who use the American flag in their tweets and profiles on social media.

Turkey’s Social Media Army on the March – Middle East Forum Read More »

The new face of anti-Turkey rhetoric – Daily Sabah

Whenever Ankara makes a new foreign policy move, the Western media comes up with new labels, which are not necessarily compatible with others: The new sultan. Caliph. Dictator. The minds behind the ideologically charged fight against Turkey cannot seem to make up their minds. Is Erdoğan an Islamist leader of the Muslim Brotherhood? Is he a neo-Ottomanist? A pan-Turkist or a Eurasianist? Or, perhaps, a leader who embraced nationalism to make up for his declining popularity? A neo-Kemalist?

Obviously, the Turkish president is none of these things. He is a strong, experienced and talented leader who strives to safeguard Turkey’s national interests.

The new face of anti-Turkey rhetoric – Daily Sabah Read More »

Turkey’s Maritime Strategy Ambitions: The Blue Homeland Doctrine (Mavi Vatan) – IIMSR

At the beginning of March 2019, the Turkish navy performed the largest combat exercise since its establishment. The training which was called “The Blue Homeland”, practiced and validated the Turkish doctrine from 2006 and gave a formal “stamp” to its military capabilities, including surface and underwater warfare, land-attack capabilities and landing capabilities.

Turkish naval ambitions came into reality 13 years after they were announced.

In a Turkish navy ceremony held in September 2019, Erdogan and commander of the navy were photographed against the background of the “Blue Homeland” picture and thereby expressed the political validity of the plan.

Turkey’s Maritime Strategy Ambitions: The Blue Homeland Doctrine (Mavi Vatan) – IIMSR Read More »

How two 16th-century pirates inspired Erdogan’s foreign policy – The National

Most historians view the brothers as pirates and slave traders, yet Turkish schoolchildren are taught the brave exploits of Oruc Reis (Turkish for “chief”) and Barbarossa Hayrettin (“best of the faith”). Now, Mr Erdogan uses seismic research vessels named after them to signal his country’s desire to defend its maritime rights and challenge regional powers.

Devised by retired naval officer Cem Gürdeniz, it views the eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Sea – to be Turkey’s Blue Homeland. It first made headlines a year ago when Mr Erdogan gave a speech in front of a map laying out Turkish control over more than 460,000 square kilometres in those three seas.

Two weeks ago, the Turkish presidency marked the anniversary of that 1538 victory over Christian powers with a video re-enactment of Hayrettin battling Crusaders. “The blood of my ancestors flows through my veins,” the President’s communications head, Fahrettin Altun, said in a tweet releasing the video. “We die and take lives for the blue homeland.”

How two 16th-century pirates inspired Erdogan’s foreign policy – The National Read More »

Turkey’s incessant fallacies – Al-Ahram – Opinion

“We are looking at the actions, if this talk is not in accordance with the policies then it does not have impact or significance.” Sameh Shoukri, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Regardless of political differences, Egypt and Turkey should communicate, said Yasin Aktay, advisor to the chairman of the Turkish Justice and Development Party and Recep Tayyip

Turkey’s incessant fallacies – Al-Ahram – Opinion Read More »