The Time Has Come for the Mediterranean Alliance

Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez called Turkish President Erdoğan to discuss what needs to be done to stop the crisis ravaging the region.

Erdoğan shared with Sanchez his meetings with dozens of leaders, his concerns for the region, and the urgent steps that need to be taken. Even though they did not speak the same language, they shared the same idea, concern, and vision.

Around the same time, hundreds of diplomatic exchanges were taking place among dozens of countries, from Pakistan to Qatar, and from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia.

When I learned about the diplomatic exchanges of the Turkish President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), I realized that this was the greatest diplomatic activity in recent years.

When Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced the tremendous efforts they had made for a ceasefire, it became clear that he too was in contact with dozens of countries.

Just as an agreement on a ceasefire was about to be reached, Israel carried out the largest attack in recent years, resulting in the deaths of 254 people and injuries to thousands in Lebanon.

This was essentially a bomb dropped on the United States’ ceasefire initiative.

This brings me to the following point: diplomatic efforts are invaluable, but they are no longer sufficient to stop Israeli aggression.

At this point, it is necessary to take a step further.

SPAIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE QUADRILATERAL ALLIANCE STRUCTURE

The effort of four countries to form an alliance, which has been on the agenda for some time and discussed in two concrete meetings, could play a vital role precisely at this time. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt are discussing this matter among themselves and making progress.

Here, I see that it is possible to move forward by slightly altering the structure of the alliance. Israel, which has been trying to stifle this alliance with concepts such as the “Sunni Crescent, Islamist NATO,” has not yet achieved what it hoped for, but it is still trying.

It is possible to make this alliance structure more political and diplomatic and to expand the structure by including Spain within it.

The common ground is Mediterranean civilization.

Those who follow this column know that I have been advocating this idea, which I call the “Mediterranean Alliance,” for a long time. As the world system disintegrates, the European Union weakens, and the need for new systems and alliances arises, the “Mediterranean Alliance” can make a great contribution to solving problems.

POLITICAL MEDITERRANEAN ALLIANCE

The renowned French historian and thinker Fernand Braudel’s unique book, “The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World,” explains how Eastern and Western countries are in fact part of a shared civilization. This civilization has a common culture, sensibilities, histories, traditions, and political perspectives.

From Spain to Lebanon, and from Turkey to France, dozens of countries and dozens of nations are part of this shared culture.

We now have the opportunity to mobilize this shared civilization in response to the crisis occurring in our region. Indeed, the political attitudes, perspectives, and solution approaches of many states toward the crisis have begun to converge.

At present, the groundwork and conditions for establishing a political Mediterranean Alliance have been formed. This does not necessarily have to be an alliance in the military and defense fields. The value of the dialogue and political unity initiated by four Muslim states was seen during the U.S.-Iran ceasefire process. Despite Trump’s threat to “destroy civilization,” a ceasefire was achieved through Pakistan’s extraordinary efforts and the support of other states. Israel, however, sabotaged the process by bombing this ceasefire. President Erdoğan reacted to Israel during his conversation with Sanchez by saying, “we must not allow anyone to sabotage ceasefire efforts.”

Now, Spain should also be invited alongside the quartet of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan. Spain, which is the voice of conscience in Europe, will have much to contribute to the efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability to the region. I am absolutely certain that France and Italy, which are part of the Mediterranean and concerned with the region, will in a short time become part of this political alliance. And naturally, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Malta, and other regional countries that believe in this political idea will also join.

THE MEDITERRANEAN MUST BECOME THE NEW CENTER OF GRAVITY

The Mediterranean basin is the place where the most productive and wealthiest civilizations of the world were established. It is still the most strategic area in terms of energy and underground resources, maritime and land transportation, and geopolitical position. After the crisis that the Middle East has entered, the region will never be the same again. New pursuits have already begun in every field.

The countries that are part of this geography have now understood that they must determine their own destinies. From the defense industry to the economy, from technology to finance, if the countries in the region unite their strengths, an immense power will emerge.

Let us mourn the destruction caused by crises, but let us also think about building a world where future generations can live in peace by focusing on the opportunities that have emerged on the other hand.