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In the gas dispute between Greece and Turkey, a major point of contention has for the moment been defused. The Turkish research vessel “Oruc Reis” has returned to the Turkish port of Antalya after the controversial international exploration of natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean. Greece welcomed the end of the investigation.
“This is a step in the right direction,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Greek television (ERT). His government is now demanding more steps from Turkey so that there can be a dialogue on the definition of so-called exclusive economic zones in the eastern Mediterranean.
The “Oruc Reis” had been searching for natural gas in the Greek islands and west of Cyprus since the second week of August. The mission was extended several times and most recently until September 12. A long simmering dispute between Greece and Turkey has rekindled in the mission.
Greece launched an extensive rearmament program
Ankara maintains that the area in which the ship searches for natural gas belongs to the Turkish continental shelf and that the country has the right to exploitation. The islands of Rhodes and Kastelorizo face Turkey, so Greece claims the maritime area for itself. There is a similar conflict on the island of Cyprus, off whose coast rich reserves of natural gas have been discovered.
In response, Greece recently launched an extensive rearmament program. The Mitsotakis government plans to buy 18 French Rafale multipurpose aircraft. In addition, four new frigates will be purchased and four other existing German-produced frigates will be modernized.
The inventory of anti-aircraft missiles, torpedoes and other ammunition will also be increased. Furthermore, the Greek arms industry should contribute more and more to the country’s armaments; this affects shipyards near Athens, for example. Military personnel will also be expanded: 15,000 new professional soldiers will be hired over the next five years.
Mitsotakis stressed that Greece is ready to peacefully resolve differences over the gas conflict with Turkey. If Turkey wants to do the same and there is still no agreement, the contentious issue could be taken to the International Court of Justice.
Criticisms from France and the EU
French President Emmanuel Macron had recently condemned Turkey’s gas exploration and criticized it as “unacceptable”. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a warning to Macron: “Don’t mess with the Turkish people, don’t mess with Turkey,” he said at an event in Istanbul. “Mr. Macron, you will have many more problems with me.”
The EU had already given Ankara an ultimatum due to gas exploration and threatened additional sanctions. If there is no progress in the dialogue in the coming weeks, a list of new punitive measures could be discussed at the special EU summit on September 24, EU Foreign Affairs representative Josep Borrell announced in late August. . These would also include financial penalties.
