Reports from Greek military observers said there have been movements of the Turkish fleet from their base at the port of Aksaz possibly to assist the Oruc Reis research ship. Turkey has sent the ship to begin a survey in the disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean. The Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called a meeting with military chiefs on Monday to assess the situation and decide upon a response.
Yesterday EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said: “The latest naval movements in the eastern Mediterranean are extremely worrying.
“They will not contribute to finding solutions.
“On the contrary, they will lead to more competition and mistrust.
“Maritime boundaries should be defined through dialogue and negotiation, not through unilateral action and mobilisation of naval forces.
“Disputes must be resolved in accordance with international law.”
The area of the eastern Mediterranean may have rich reserves of hydrocarbons and Turkey is eager to exploit them.
Turkish movements to investigate these hydrocarbon reserves has antagonised Athens.
Istanbul had temporarily agreed to halt the investigations, but the recent ship movements suggest otherwise.
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“As the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, I will make every effort to re-establish such a dialogue and to facilitate its resumption.
“This course of action will not serve the interests of either the European Union or Turkey.
“We must work together for security in the Mediterranean.”
Amid the tensions at sea, Mr Erdoğan has other problems, not least the plunge in the recent Turkish lira.