European Council President Charles Michel said that all options are on the table to defend the legitimate interests of the European Union and its member states, in a message to Turkey if it does not take what he called a constructive approach to resolving the current conflicts in the eastern Mediterranean.

In a message to European heads of state and government, Michel affirmed that the upcoming extraordinary European summit will discuss the situation in the eastern Mediterranean and relations with Turkey.

Greece (a member of the European Union) and Turkey, its partner in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), are currently contesting sovereignty over areas in the eastern Mediterranean that may be rich in natural gas.

Tensions escalated between the two countries at the end of last August, when each of them held military maneuvers, and this sensitive file will be on the table of discussions of European Union heads of state and government who will meet in Brussels for a summit to be held on Thursday and Friday.

The Turkish exploration and research ship "Aruj Reis" in the eastern Mediterranean (Anatolia)

Mission and goals 

In the invitation letter to this summit, the President of the European Council (a body representing the 27 member states) explained to the leaders of countries and governments that the dinner that will gather them on Thursday evening will be devoted exclusively to discussing the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and relations with Turkey.

"Our goal is to create a space for constructive dialogue with Turkey in order to achieve stability and security in the entire region, and to ensure full respect for the sovereignty and sovereign rights of all member states," Michel said, referring to Greece as well as to Cyprus.

The discovery of gas and oil reserves off Cyprus sparked a dispute with Turkey, which extends its control over the northern part of the island.

A map showing the magnitude of the complications and overlaps in the maritime borders between the Eastern Mediterranean countries (The Economist)

Tension and effort

Tension increased when Ankara sent drilling ships off Cyprus, despite warnings from the United States and the European Union.

In a related context to these developments, Turkish Vice President Fuad Oktay stressed that Turkey wants to reiterate that the exercise of the Republic of Northern Cyprus (unilaterally declared and recognized by Turkey) of its sovereign rights is very important, and it cannot waive one of these rights.

In previous developments on Tuesday, the Al-Jazeera correspondent in Ankara reported, citing Turkish official sources, that the Turkish and Greek military delegations held the sixth technical meeting at the headquarters of NATO (NATO) in the Belgian capital, Brussels.

The Turkish official sources stated that the Turkish and Greek delegations discussed ways to resolve the conflict between the military elements of both parties, in light of the existing crisis between Turkey and Greece in the eastern Mediterranean regarding the maritime borders between them.

A seventh meeting is scheduled to be held between the two parties in the coming days, according to the same sources.

Washington's position

For his part, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during his meeting today with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that Greece and Turkey are allies of his country within NATO, and that Washington supports dialogue in order to resolve the existing differences between them, stressing the need not only to conduct exploratory talks, but rather Solutions must be found. "

Greece and Turkey, who disagree over a range of issues, have agreed to resume exploratory talks on opposing maritime sovereignty demands in the eastern Mediterranean after weeks of tension, but the date of the talks has not been announced.