The Greek National Security Council meets to discuss Turkish moves

Media outlets said that the Greek National Security Council is scheduled to hold a meeting today, to discuss Turkish moves in the eastern Mediterranean.

10 August, 2020 10:21

NEWS DESK

According to the Associated Press, the Greek Prime Minister will hold a meeting of the Greek National Security Council today, after Turkey announced that its research ship will conduct exploratory drilling operations in the eastern Mediterranean in an area between Cyprus and Greece.

The council, which includes the foreign and defense ministers, is scheduled to meet at noon Monday.

The Turkish Navy issued a navigation notice saying that its ship, "Oruj Reis," would conduct seismic scanning in the eastern Mediterranean during the next two weeks.

Seismic scanning are usually part of the preliminary research and exploration work, and Turkey and Greece have been at loggerheads for decades over a variety of issues, including maritime boundaries.

This step is likely to increase tension in the eastern Mediterranean, between Turkey on the one hand and a number of countries in the region on the other hand, led by Greece.