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Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Despite the fact that the corona pandemic threatens the world, conflicts between the main countries continue to occur in various regions of the world. In the South China Sea, for example, China, which claims that 80% of the territory is in conflict with various ASEAN countries and the United States (US).
But it is not just the region that is tense. The area of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea is the same, even worse than the South China Sea.
The heart of the problem is the overlapping of Turkish and Greek territories in these energy-rich waters. Turkey’s desire to search for gas has brought a warning from Greece, because it is accused of being carried out in the country’s waters.
Turkey sent its research vessel Oruc Reis from 10 August. The ship investigation off the island of Crete outraged Greece.
Greece claims that the territory is its waters. Greece submitted a note of objection informing the European Union, which it joins.
Both also involve their respective armies. Turkey has deployed its navy to protect research vessels and conduct shooting exercises in the region.
Meanwhile, Greece is assisted by the French army, which patrols the same area. F-16 fighter jets were also deployed.
Although other European countries, such as Germany, which is now the president of the European Union, have tried to reconcile tensions between the two, they remain high. Turkey even has the backing of the United States and Italy.
Turkey’s disappointment deepened in Europe after last Friday (8/28/2020), the European Union Foreign Minister reviewed a list of sanctions for Turkey. Including penalties for companies that make observations in the area.
The European Union calls Turkey illegal drilling. The final decision on sanctions will be made on September 24.
In a statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that his party was ready for war to defend its interests in the Mediterranean.
“When the time comes to go to war, we will not hesitate to make sacrifices,” Erdogan told AFP.
The situation got hotter when on Monday (8/31/2020), Greece sent the military back to the island of Kastellorizo, which is 2 kilometers from the Turkish drilling. Even in his latest statement, Erdogan said that he would not tolerate any “piracy or looting” that Greece might commit.
“Nothing can limit Turkey, which has the longest coastline in the Mediterranean … We are determined to defend the maritime rights of our citizens,” Erdogan said.
In the report of the United States Geological Survey, the Eastern Mediterranean Sea has oil reserves of 1.7 billion barrels. Meanwhile, the gas is 3.5 trillion cubic meters.
Turkey is not an EU country. But Turkey and Greece are both in a NATO alliance.
Previously, the two countries were also tense over Syrian refugees. Turkey opens its borders to refugees to leave the country for Europe, which outrages Greece.
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