Turkey’s delusions of grandeur

The Cyprus talks are all but dead. It is only a matter of time before the nail in the coffin is hammered into place to seal a new chapter in the history of Cyprus. What will happen next is anyone's guess.
Analysing the latest geopolitical and economic developments in the area, one can ascertain that Cyprus is entering unchartered waters. It will need a strong leader's hand and wisdom to navigate it through the quandary, mired with political traps and a horde of uncertainties facing the nation, but most worrisome of all, it has to deal with Turkey's unprovoked military behaviour in the region. Ankara keeps threatening and provoking its neighbours by flying over the airspace of Greece, Cyprus, and Syria, including Northern Iraq. Syria has recently shot down a Turkish jet for doing just that, yet Turkey insists on pursuing its aggressive policy in the area by sending convoys of flotillas and flexing its muscles; self-inflicted delusions of grandeur.
The discovery of natural gas in the region by Cyprus and Israel has raised the stakes even higher. Now, many nations are positioning themselves to be part of this unexpected blessing (or possibly a curse) if taking into account Turkey's aggressive behaviour. Ankara is as mad as a rabid dog for not being part of this bonanza and she's testing her chances; she prefers to steal the wealth of others; a well-know historic plundering policy of Turkey.
The Turkish government wasted no time to make claims that it's entitled to part of the hydrocarbon discovery and triggered off a red alert in full readiness to initiate military attacks against Israel and the Republic of Cyprus. Those illicit claims by Turkey are causing a real threat to the stability of the entire region. Yet, except for lip service, the big powers, but especially the European Union, have remained impartial, playing a dubious role in such a dangerous war game against one of its own member-states.
In fact, there is a disturbing movement growing in Turkey; a movement with a delusional dream of calls to rekindle an old flame of glory of a Neo-Ottoman Empire. Its aim is to spread across borders and gain influence over all other Muslim nations. One can reasonably assume that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has developed a slight trait and considers himself the new Salahad-Din - better known as Saladin - of the Mohammedan Moors in readiness to influence and dominate the entire Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
The Turkish Prime Minister and his close aids have been flirting with this idea of Turkey becoming the Motherland of all Muslims for a long time. They want to create a powerful Islamic/Muslim block of nations to play its part in world affairs, economically, socially and politically.
The military occupation of 40 per cent of the Republic of Cyprus in July of 1974 is the beginning of Turkey's long-term strategic expansion plan put in motion. The objective is to permanently occupy the island with thousands of Anatolian Muslim settlers - subsequently, there are over 350,000 illegal "imports" now living in the occupied area. Wealthy mainland Turks are also encouraged to purchase as many properties belonging to Greek refugees as they can. The official aim is to ultimately change the demographic character of the island; one of a Christian nation into Erdogan's master plan of the Islamization of Cyprus.
Western powers in contrast are dragging their feet. They are of two minds; on the one hand, they cannot justify Turkey's abuse of human rights, especially by imprisoning citizens for speaking out publicly in opposition to government policy, and secondly; the Turkish consumer market is a massive market they can ill-afford to ignore! Sadly, when it comes to politics, power and profits: human rights go out the window.
As it happens, Turkey enjoys one of the fastest growing economies brought about due to its membership into the EU Customs Union. EU markets absorb nearly eighty per cent of Turkey's exports (EU Trade). Large foreign companies take advantage of Turkey's low-cost production services of a cheap and hard-working labour force, wage repression, low taxation, lax regulations and attractive venture incentives. It has one of the biggest military machines in Europe with more than 900,000 troops, which makes it a power to be reckoned with. Turkey's attractive business incentives have helped the nation's reputation to become a magnet for industrialists and investment companies capitalizing upon this lucrative opportunity. Located at the crossroads of continents, Turkey has become a very attractive place to do business with and no western power will shy away from such a bonanza.
It is for that main reason that the Erdogan government has been obsessed with stamping out any opposition to his grand vision of a Greater Turkish nation, in fear that, the present growth may turn into a nightmare and start sliding down a slippery road. That possibility would bring about chaos to millions of disenfranchised citizens who are treated unfairly by the ruling elite.
Consequently, the Ankara government considers freedom of speech as anathema and prohibits any such expressions against Turkish nationalism. Erdogan calls such public behaviour as "unturkishness". Nationalism is treated like a sacred cow that no-one dares to tamper with. The alternative for those who speak out is years of imprisonment. Many journalists have found themselves in jails for criticizing government policy, burgeoning corruption and nepotism. Any expression of dissent is dealt with by the watchful eye of the "Motherland Sentinels" and treated as a crime against Turkishness.