Avoiding the perfect storm

Turkey's AK Party spokesman Omer Celik said Monday that the government is mulling bringing elections "slightly" forward (the country's parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled to be held on June 18), a decision which could have implications for Greece. Reports in the local press say that elections are likely to be held on April 30 or May 14, effectively around the time of Greece's national election, which is expected to take place on April 9 with a second round, if necessary, in mid-May. 

Meanwhile, tensions in Greek-Turkish relations remain high. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu recently warned that an expansion of territorial waters to 12 miles around the island of Crete would be a cause for war (casus belli). For his part, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that he considers recent visits made by Greek officials to the islands near the Turkish coast...