US foreign and security policy in contemporary Eastern Mediterranean: the return of great power politics in a changing regional environment

The general purpose of this paper is to examine the US’ contemporary strategic approach on the Eastern Mediterranean in the analytical context of renewed great power tensions. Even though the Eastern Mediterranean does not constitute a high priority for Washington, following the 2017 strategic reorientation toward tackling rival great powers’ international influence US foreign and security policy in the region is organized according to a dual balancing strategy vis-à-vis Russia and China. To investigate this hypothesis, we focus on two relevant subjects: developments in relations among Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus in conjunction with Russia’s influence in the region and Europe’s energy security and China’s moves in the Eastern Mediterranean in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.