On Sunday, Turkey’s armed forces began an annual exercise in the broken republic of northern Cyprus – the only body recognized by Ankara – to raise tensions with Greece in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey’s hunt for gas and oil reserves in the waters claimed by Greece has put great strain on relations between the two NATO members.
As tensions escalate, the Turkish military began its exercise called “Mediterranean Storm” with the Turkish Cypriot Security Command, Vice President Fuat Okte said on Twitter.
“Our country’s security priorities and TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] Diplomatic solutions are inevitable in the Eastern Mediterranean, ”said Octe.
The Turkish Defense Ministry also tweeted a military exercise, which lasted until Thursday, which continued “successfully”.
Cyprus is divided between the Greek Cypriot-governed south – the EU member state – and the Turkish Cypriot north.
Since the 1974 invasion, Turkey has deployed thousands of troops north of the island, following a coup by military rulers in Greece.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan And European Council President Charles Mitchell discussed the development of the Eastern Mediterranean during a phone call on Sunday.
The Turkish leader “called on EU institutions and member states to be fair, impartial and objective and to act responsibly on regional issues, especially in the East Mediterranean,” the president’s office said in a statement.
Mitchell said on Friday that EU leaders would decide on a “carrot and stick” approach in Turkey when they meet on September 2-25 to propose a conference to reduce tensions.
Turkey sanctions
On Saturday, Erdogan warned Greece: “They will either understand the language of politics and diplomacy, or through bitter experiences on the ground.”
France said Turkey’s growing conflict with Greece and Cyprus would be a major topic at this month’s European Council meeting, while sanctions against Ankara would be considered.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he and his EU counterparts had already discussed “a range of changes we can take in the context of Turkey”.
Turkey launched a military-backed hydrocarbon exploration venture in the waters between Greece and Cyprus on August 10, escalating tensions in strategic corridors in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece responded with a naval exercise to defend its maritime territory, which was later strengthened by the deployment of French frigates and fighter jets.
‘Turks up’
The dispute between NATO members has mitigated the growing geopolitical risks in the region as Turkey pursues more aggressive nationalist policies under Erdogan.
EU diplomat Joseph Borrell has also raised the possibility of sanctions against Ankara, but so far Paris has been unable to persuade other EU countries to join its tough response.
Le Drian urged Erdogan to start negotiations on his former Mediterranean ambitions between now and the European Council meeting.
“It’s up to the Turks to show that this matter … can be discussed,” he told France Inter Radio. “If so, we can create a virtuous circle for all the problems on the table.”
He declined to say what kind of sanctions Ankara might face, but said there was a “whole range of steps”.
“We don’t have a shortage of options – and he knows,” Le Drian said, referring to Erdogan.
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