Turkey announced today, Sunday, that it will expand the scope of its operations to explore gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean, in conjunction with Ankara conducting military exercises, while the European Union said that this increases tension in the region.
The Turkish Navy stated in a memorandum published last night that the "Yavuz" gas exploration vessel deployed off the coast of Cyprus for months will carry out its activities from August 18 to September 15 in the southwest of the island, adding, "We strongly advise against going to the exploration area." ".
The Turkish Ministry of Defense also announced in a tweet on its Twitter account that the frigate "Kemal Reis", which participated in Operation Mediterranean Shield, and the warship "Banderma" participating in the United Nations forces in Lebanon, are currently carrying out the eastern Mediterranean mission.
The ministry published pictures of naval maneuvers that showed warships accompanying the seismic survey ship "Barbaros Khair El Din Pasha" of Turkey.
Ankara's announcement to expand its activities comes in an atmosphere of growing tension in the eastern Mediterranean, where the discovery of large gas fields in recent years has aroused Turkey's interest, while its steps have met with condemnation from Greece, Cyprus and the European Union.
The Union said in a statement today that Turkey's announcement of continuing exploration operations in the marine area that was identified by Egypt and Cyprus increases tension and instability in the eastern Mediterranean.
The statement, issued by the EU's High Commissioner for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, added that this affects the resumption of dialogue and negotiations, and it is the only solution as agreed upon by the foreign ministers at their last meeting last Friday.
And last week, Ankara sent the seismic survey ship "Aruj Reis" accompanied by two military ships off the coast of the Greek island of Kastellorizo in the southeast of the Aegean Sea, which angered Greece and worried the European Union.
Ready to respond
And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed yesterday, Saturday, that the "Aruj Reis" ship will continue its activities to explore for energy in the eastern Mediterranean until August 23, stressing that "we will never hesitate to respond to the necessary response if it is subjected to the slightest harassment."
Erdogan's statement came after the announcement of the entry into force of an agreement between Greek Cyprus and France on the first of August, in which France deployed military aircraft to the Cypriot "Andre Papandro" base, which sparked angry reactions from Ankara.
Turkish Vice President Fuad Aktay confirmed his country’s categorical rejection of France’s deployment of military aircraft in what he called the "administration of southern Cyprus" (Greek Cyprus), in contravention of the 1960 agreements.
Aktay stressed the need for France to avoid "adventures" regarding the Cyprus issue and act more responsibly, calling on the international community, especially the European Union, to put an end to "the hostile and lawbreaking French behavior" in the region.
With the recent escalation of tension in the eastern Mediterranean, Greece put its forces on alert, sent warships, and requested the departure of the Turkish exploration vessel "Aruj Rayes" and the military ships that protect it.
On Friday, the European Union foreign ministers held an emergency meeting in which they declared their standing with Greece and Cyprus, but they called for dialogue to resolve the current crisis, which is what Athens considered a disappointing position, as it was waiting for a more strict stance similar to what France is doing, which calls for imposing sanctions on Ankara.