Turkish naval movements in the Mediterranean, after the signing of the maritime agreement between Egypt and Greece is a “cause of great concern, and will lead to an increase in discord, and distrust”, said the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell.
The EU official believed that maritime borders should be drawn through dialogue and negotiations, not through unilateral moves and the mobilisation of naval forces.
He stressed that “disputes must be resolved according to international law”, emphasizing that “the European Union is committed to contributing to resolving disputes and disparities in this region of vital security importance.”
Borrell concluded: “The current course will not serve the interests of the European Union or Turkey. We must work together for the sake of Mediterranean security”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced on the 7th of August, the resumption of hydrocarbon exploration in the disputed eastern Mediterranean. This came a day after Athens and Cairo signed a maritime agreement, which Ankara denounced.
In December 2019, Turkey signed with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), two MoUs on defence and gas drilling in the Mediterranean. This included a new maritime border between the two countries. The agreement was rejected by several countries such as Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, and the UAE. They described it as an illegal act that violates the sovereignty of other Mediterranean states.