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The Turkish gas research ship has been escorted by several warships east of the Mediterranean.
At the same time, the Greek authorities have plans to expand territorial waters from six to twelve nautical miles.
Both countries are conducting military exercises in the Mediterranean and will increase this activity, write news agencies AFP and Reuters.
It is the search for gas resources in the maritime zone that increases the tension between Greece and Turkey, writes France 24.
The Turkish research ship Oruc Reis is creating trouble. It looks for gas in an area to the east of the Mediterranean that the Greeks believe belongs to them.
Photo: Yoruk Isik / Reuters
A military conflict between the two neighboring countries on the European border will have serious consequences throughout the region and will be very dangerous, writes CNN.
“This is a declaration of war”
Greece’s plans to expand the maritime zone could trigger an armed conflict. This is what the Vice President of Turkey, Fuat Oktay, says.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced earlier this week plans to expand territorial waters from six to twelve nautical miles along the west coast, which lies off Italy.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes that the country has every right to seek gas in the eastern Mediterranean. Warn Greece not to try to stop the research vessel.
Photo: AP
He also said that the same can happen in other places where the distance to other countries is less than 24 nautical miles.
– Can we be expected to accept this? asks the Turkish vice president rhetorically.
– If this is not a declaration of war, then what is a declaration of war? Says Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay according to DPA.
The Turkish authorities are also said to be highly provoked because the Italian and French navies are training with the Greeks in the Mediterranean.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar accuses France of “noisy” behavior, writes AFP.
Greece is also in conflict with Turkey in the Aegean Sea, where the Greek islands are a short distance from Turkey.
Marine vessels collided
The navies of both countries protect each other with argumentative eyes.
Earlier this month, a Turkish navy ship collided with a Greek ship, and on Friday Turkey said it had cut six Greek fighter jets in an area off Cyprus.
The Greek army has released images showing a military exercise in the Mediterranean involving Greek and US forces. Both Turkey and Greece mark the military force practicing in the Mediterranean.
Photo: Uncredited / AP
The EU fears an armed conflict and on Friday threatened Turkey with sanctions due to the search for gas in the disputed area.
The EU backs Greece
Along with the rest of the EU, Germany is behind Greece. The EU warns that the union may impose sanctions on the Turkish authorities.
At the same time, the Germans have assumed a mediating role in the crisis.
Chancellor Angela Merkel says the conflict between Greece and Turkey must be resolved.
– We cannot remain indifferent to this, says Merkel, who once again advocates dialogue.
– It is important to avoid escalation, says the German Chancellor.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praises German Chancellor Angela Merkel for trying to mediate between Turkey and Greece.
Photo: Pool / Reuters
Merkel says she has had “very intense” discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron on the matter.
France is participating this week in a joint military exercise with Italy, Cyprus and Greece in the region. Turkey is conducting its own exercise.
NATO praises Germany
For the NATO defense alliance, the tension between Turkey and Greece is very unfortunate. Both countries are members of NATO.
Last Thursday, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked the Germans for their efforts to try to defuse tensions between the two neighboring countries in the eastern Mediterranean.
Stoltenberg emphasized that dialogue and downsizing are in everyone’s interest.
Old enmity
The old enmity between Greece and Turkey has flared again.
The relationship with Cyprus in particular is very heated. Since the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus in 1974, the UN has tried to mediate peace between the parties.
Both countries joined NATO in 1952. An important point on the part of the alliance was to put both countries in the heat at the same time to prevent one of the countries from denying the membership of the other.
As allies, the relationship was stable for a time. However, the conflict over Cyprus has served as a poison in the relationship.
Military exercise in the Mediterranean. Greek and US naval forces train together. Both Greece and Turkey are conducting exercises to enhance military strength.
Photo: Uncredited / AP
