Turkey Not Present For Annual Naval Exercises with “Israel”, US

Local Editor

For the second year in a row, Turkey is not participating in the naval drill, Reliant Mermaid, with "Israel" and the US. This action taken by Turkey is a result of the killing of nine Turkish activists from the 2010 Gaza Flotilla Raid.

Greece has now replaced Turkey as a new ally in the Mediterranean, participating in naval drills with "Israel" and the US last week.

The purpose of the naval exercises is to practice "search-and-rescue operations" with International navy's that are also present in the Mediterranean.

For the past ten years, until the 2010 Gaza Flotilla Raid, "Israel", Turkey, and the US held annual naval drills together.