The race for hydrocarbons stirs up tensions in the Mediterranean

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3 min

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday August 21 that Turkey had discovered in the Black Sea "the largest" natural gas field "in its history", adding that his country would intensify its research in the eastern Mediterranean despite many tensions.

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The Mediterranean is becoming militarized against a backdrop of border conflicts and around the exploitation of large gas fields. Ankara's ambitions now clash head-on with the positions of the European Union, which has repeatedly called for de-escalation.

At the origins of the discord, there is first of all a dispute between Greece and Turkey over the course of their maritime borders. To this conflict, we must add the energy ambitions of Ankara off Cyprus. The discovery of immense gas fields a few nautical miles from this island exacerbated tensions, giving the starting signal to a race for hydrocarbons .

By interposed agreements, the two countries are at loggerheads. In 2019, Turkey signed a bilateral agreement with Libya, angering the Greeks. In January, it was another agreement, this time signed between Greece, Cyprus and Israel that angered Ankara. It provides for the construction of the EastMed, a 1900 km gas pipeline .

Tensions at the heart of NATO

Turkey has since shown its teeth for fear of being excluded from sharing the Mediterranean cake. On August 10, Ankara deployed several warships to an area claimed by Greece. To make matters worse, France got involved, sending a tricolor frigate and gust planes for joint exercises with the Greek navy. Athens is also supported by the Emiratis who will send F16 fighters next week to accompany the Greek air force.

The Turkey accuses Paris of "  pouring oil on the fire  " by sending warships to the area. Finally, the tension escalated further last week when a collision occurred between two Greek and Turkish ships in an area claimed by Athens where Ankara has deployed warships. Tensions which create an extremely volatile situation between countries which, however, are part of the same military and strategic alliance: NATO.

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• Nato
• Turkey
• Greece

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