Tension between Greece and Turkey returns in the Mediterranean

Athens began, at dawn today, military maneuvers in which its naval and air forces participated in the Mediterranean Sea southeast of Crete and south of the Greek island of Kastelorizo, near the area to which Turkey sent the research vessel Oroch Prime, accompanied by warships, to survey the Mediterranean Sea in search of gas reserves And oil.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas went to Greece and Turkey, Tuesday, in an attempt to ease the growing tension between the two allies, NATO allies, and to defuse the crisis over exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean.

Spreading chaos

On Monday, Erdogan announced that the Turkish navy would not retreat from its positions in the eastern Mediterranean, accusing Greece of spreading chaos, and added, following a cabinet meeting, "Those who throw Greece before the Turkish navy will not back them."

He considered that Athens has no right to broadcast navigational guidance known as Neftex in the areas claimed by Ankara, and said, "Greece has announced its navigation instructions illegally and in a crude manner, with this position Greece is spreading chaos that it will not be able to escape from."

An escalating war of words

The two countries have sent frigates to the waters of the Mediterranean, amid an escalating war of words due to conflicting demands for entitlement to energy resources.

Turkey has extended the exploration mission of the survey ship Aruj Reis in a disputed area in the eastern Mediterranean until August 27, thus fueling tension in the region.

Athens described the survey as illegal, and Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters, on Monday, that Greece has issued navigation advisories that also expire on August 27.

He stressed that his country "will respond calmly with readiness on the diplomatic and practical levels, and will do everything necessary to defend its sovereign rights."

J.O