The East Mediterranean Triangle at Crossroads: The LeTort Papers

The collapse of Israel‐Turkey relations over the last decade has led to a reshuffling of the power plays in the East Mediterranean region. Following the dismantlement of the Ankara‐Jerusalem axis, Greece has entered the game by becoming the new ally of Israel in the area. As a result, the new strategic triangle that emerges in the region has implications at both the security and economic levels. Its future will shape not only the regional security system but also the prosperity of the area, for instance by defining the governance of energy discoveries. Therefore, it will have direct implications for U.S. security interests.

The first section of this monograph exposes the modern emergence of the East Mediterranean Triangle in the years following World War II and after the birth of modern Israel in 1948, in particular. The next section focuses on the 2010-2015 period, during which the initial logic of the triangle unraveled and engendered a new set of relations between the three countries.

In the third section, the author looks at three arenas affected by the current dynamics of the triangle: the energy prospects in the Mediterranean, the NATO partnership policy, and the rise of Israel’s look-east policy. Finally, the author highlights why the future of this triangle matters for the U.S. defense community, vis-à-vis the stability in the region and its bilateral relations with each of the three countries.

Audience: The East Mediterranean Triangle referred to in this work represents the dynamics between Greece, Turkey, and Israel that have an impact on critical issues such as negotiations over the status of Cyprus.  This work may appeal to diplomats, policy advisors, national security personnel, defense scholars, and military historians.  Additionally, students pursuing coursework in programs such as international relations, political science, global studies, national security, foreign energy supplies, and military science may find this text useful for research about the tensions between Israel, Turkey, and Greece.

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