ALBAWABA - Israeli security authorities are closely monitoring Turkey’s escalating naval activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, amid growing concerns that Ankara’s increased military presence could exacerbate tensions in the region, despite the absence of any direct conflict between the two countries.
Israeli media say officials believe Turkey has stepped up its naval activity in areas where it used to have little presence, and they see the deployments as part of a broader effort by Ankara to project military influence across the region, especially in relation to developments in Syria.
Israeli and Turkish warships have not collided directly, but both navies are apparently monitoring each other’s activities in international waters and exclusive economic zones. Officials said interactions at sea have increased in frequency over the past year, with warships sometimes operating in close proximity and increasing their levels of readiness during patrols.
The spike in marine activity follows one of the Israeli Navy’s largest military drills in recent years, which rehearsed scenarios such as defending ports and offshore infrastructure, securing shipping channels and responding to threats to commercial vessels.
Despite the increased military activity, Turkish was still a regional rival and not an open adversary, Israeli officials argued. But they noted the present view might shift quickly if tensions continue to increase.
Israeli authorities are also keenly monitoring allegations of a possible Turkish military buildup inside Syria, saying any increase in security cooperation between Ankara and Damascus might change the regional balance.
The fresh fears come after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Syria of enabling Turkish military deployments near Aleppo, despite Israeli warnings. His comments came after Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Air Base, revealing increasing Israeli worry over Turkey’s growing military footprint in Syria.
Meanwhile, the United States is reportedly seeking to establish a deconfliction mechanism between Israel, Turkey and Syria, to prevent military incidents from spiraling into a wider regional conflict, as concerns continue to mount over the increasingly crowded Eastern Mediterranean.
