THE “ORTHODOX” CONNECTION
Aside of the US, EU eco - financial crises, which is about to reshuffle the geopolitical landscape profoundly in the not too distant future, there seems to be increase in activities around the globe in search for natural resource, which trigger tension between countries that usually live in peaceful coexistence.
The current dispute between TURKEY and ISRAEL in reality is about gas and possible oil extraction in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN. What is interesting in this dispute is the constellation of the key players. On the one hand there is CYPRUS and GREECE who have strong ties to RUSSIA, not on only because of their common CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX faith, but also because of economic ties.
ISRAEL on the other hand has a large number of RUSSIAN immigrants, which subsequently lead to stronger economic ties with RUSSIA. Subsequently ISRAEL and CYPRUS agreed to cooperate in gas and oil exploration activities which angered TURKEY that increasingly strengthens its ties with ARAB countries such as oil giant, SAUDI ARABIA which is facing its own share of problems when it comes to natural resources, namely that of water, or for the lack of it.
SAUDI ARABIA’S water needs are eating into oil wealth. See http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/09/us-saudi-water-idUSTRE7885ZX20110909.
WATER, GOLD OF THE FUTURE
Thus growing demand for water in the region could trigger further tension in an already fragile political environment. Not so long ago TURKEY and SYRIA were at the brink of war because of a water dispute over the Tigris and Euphrates River water distribution. The pending GOLAN HEIGHT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_heights ) dispute between SYRIA and ISRAEL is not only about strategic advantages but to a large extend about water. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee
Looking at all these aspects and the current natural resource dispute in the region it becomes imminent that TURKEY wants to increase its stakes in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN and maybe even provide SAUDI ARABIA with water from the Tigris and Euphrates River http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrates, which could cause a further rift between SYRIA and TURKEY.
Oil and Gas findings in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, water shortage in the entire region and complex geopolitical constellations of TURKEY, SAUDI ARABIA, and other SUNNI ARAB STATES on the one side and GREECE, CYPRUS, ISRAEL and in a supportive role RUSSIA and CHINA, on the other side, with the USA and EUROPE unable to mediate due to their precarious eco - political situation.
POLITICAL CHESS
The significance of the recent gas and oil findings in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin are showcased in the intense political activities between GREECE, ISRAEL, CYPRUS and RUSSIA. For the first time in decades a GREEK Defense Minister visited his Israeli counterpart to sign a Cooperation Memorandum in the security sector between GREECE and ISRAEL.
SOUTHERN CONE
Not only on the northern hemisphere are natural resources disputes looming. The conflict between ARGENTINA and the UNITED KINGDOM regarding the MALVINAS (Falklands) Islands is about to take up momentum after oil exploration along the eastern part of the southern cone indicated the possibility of large oil reserve findings, which prompted the UK to conduct drilling activities in the disputed area. This prompted ARGENTINA to step up its claim over the legitimate sovereignty of the islands. CHINA, in response to its close economic ties with ARGENTINA immediately reiterated its position in support for ARGENTINES legitimate sovereignty claim over the MALVINAS Islands.
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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – QUEST FOR NATURAL RESOURCES Updated at :
6:04 AM
Sunday, September 18, 2011
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