Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States must increase vigilance over Turkey
amid the development of energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean, a report
said.

The American Enterprise Institute asserted that Turkey could use its
huge military to destabilize the eastern Mediterranean in the competition
for natural gas reserves.

The institute cited Turkish threats to use its Navy to resolve disputes, particularly with the Republic of Cyprus.

“Given its embrace of Hamas and agitation against Israel, the United States can no longer assume Turkey will help encourage stability in the region,” the report, titled “Will the Eastern Mediterranean Become the Next
Persian Gulf, said.

The institute, in a report by Niklas Anzinger, said Turkey contains the strongest navy in the region. The report cited a threat by Turkey’s European Union Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis in 2011 use military force against Cyprus.

“Bagis and [Turkish Energy Minister Taner] Yildiz may not be among
Turkey’s most diplomatically refined officials, but it would be negligent to
ignore their threats.” the report said.

The report, dated July 25, said Ankara views both Israel and Cyprus as
threats to Turkish energy interests in the Mediterranean. Turkey’s Navy is
said to consist of 200 vessels, including frigates, corvettes, tactical
submarines, fast-attack craft, amphibious vessels and logistics ships.

Turkey is expected to enhance its Navy and other military arms over the
next few years. In March 2012, Ankara introduced a five-year strategic plan
to make the country’s defense industry one of the world’s 10 largest by
2016, which the report said reflects the ruling Justice and Development
Party’s ambition to wean Turkey out of the orbit of the European Union and
the United States.

“Much as Iran and Saudi Arabia dominate the Persian Gulf, simple
geography makes Turkey a paramount player in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the
report said. “While the Persian Gulf littoral states, with few exceptions,
profit from gas or oil, Turkey lacks indigenous energy resources. It has
instead sought to cash in on its geographical position, which links the
energy-rich Caspian Sea region to the energy-hungry West.”

  American Enterprise Institute, eastern Mediterranean, Egemen Bagis, Justice and Development Party, Recep Erdogan, Report: Islamist Turkey could destabilize region in quest for natural gas reserves, Taner Yildiz