The problem, in short, is that Turkey claims the right to explore for gas and oil in an area that contradicts Greece’s own claims. Instead of resolving the dispute through dialogue, Turkey sent its naval and research ships into the disputed waters in August, and the two countries conducted a rival military exercise in the region in the coming days.
One of the northeastern islands of Greece, sp kilometers of hard rock and shrub spit, is a millennium of habitat for geographical good luck. Behind it is towards the Aegean and heading towards the rugged lands of Turkey, Turkey.
Today, Castellorizo is at the center of a controversy over energy research in the East Mediterranean. Turkey says Greece is unjustifiably claiming territory based on small islands like its coast, deceiving Ankara to navigate the coast. Israel and Egypt have already found rich reserves of gas under the Mediterranean Sea, and there are many reasons to believe it remains to be discovered.
On Sunday, President Sakeleropolou told islanders that “Turkey’s illegal actions have never before caused tensions in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. Tensions threaten peace and stability, not only in Greece, but also in the EU and NATO.” That Greece is “open to dialogue” and that it is “a prerequisite for immediate de-growth political debate on the part of Turkey.”
Just hours before his arrival, Greek Prime Minister Kriakos Mitsotakis announced that he would increase the army, and began searching for four new frigates for the navy, and added another 15,000 troops to the army.
When asked why this move is being made now, Sakeleropolou told CNN: “Not just to send a message, but if you have peace you should always be more prepared for war – some ancient Greeks said, we have everything Be prepared for. “
The president’s response appeared to surprise his officials, but the harsh reality of the place these two neighbors have reached. Neither side really wants a war, but it is not able to go beyond both.
The president’s visit to Castellorizo was criticized by Turkey’s defense minister on Sunday. “As if there is no other island to go to for the celebrations, they go there. Of course this bothers us,” Hulusi told the state-run Anadolu news agency, although he added that Turkey was also in favor of “dialogue” and “Political Solutions.”
Greece says it will negotiate if Turkey is under its warship, but the Turks plan to abide by it for more than a few days. A Turkish research ship that was sunk in disputed waters by Turkish military ships has now returned to a Turkish port, the development of which was described by the Greek government on Sunday as a “positive step”.
When Greece and Turkey talk darkly to each other, it is not sensible to turn to them. Rain comes frequently when their controversies cloud the horizon. It has been barely two generations since Turkey divided the island of Paratroopers on Greece’s neighbor Cyprus. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled Europe, a peace deal is yet to be signed, and the Turkish-controlled north is still awaiting international recognition.
Just last week, Mitsotakis wrote an article in some of the leading European newspapers about his great-uncle’s agreement with the Turkish founder Kamal Atturk in 1930. His point was that Greece and Turkey have a history of exit and creation, and there have been better days than bad.
But today the stakes are higher. The bottom of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea has proven to be a treasure trove as proxy wars erupt along its shores. Russia has acquired its interests in Syria and Libya, and Vladimir Putin is tightening his grip on the sea, which he considers important to Russia’s naval interests.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has struck a maritime deal with Libya that cuts off the interests of Russia and the UAE, as well as blocking the Eastern Mediterranean gas pipeline to Europe.
Israel has gas to export, Europe wants to diversify gas imports away from Russia, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who opposes Turkey in Libya, has taken a backseat to Greece. The United States is also sympathetic to the plight of Greece.
These levels of multinational complexity pose a risk of stimulating the chain reaction – and as Turkey and Greece seek to extract hydrocarbons, the error can be explosive.
The title of this story has been updated.
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