Two rival warships from Turkey and Greece have collided in the Eastern Mediterranean, officials from both countries said, amid a naval standoff triggered by Ankara’s recent decision to begin oil exploration in contested waters.
A Greek defence source described the clash as an “accident”, but Ankara described it as a “provocation.”
The incident, which occurred Wednesday and wasn’t publicized by either side, highlights how close to a direct conflict the two North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) members have come. The incident involved the Greek Navy’s Limnos frigate and Turkey’s TGC Kemal Reis.
Tensions have escalated between the two countries this week after Turkey sent a survey vessel to the region. The vessel, named Oruc Reis, is escorted by warships to map out sea territory for possible oil and gas drilling in an area where Turkey and Greece both claim jurisdiction.
EU foreign ministers have called for a reduction in tension via teleconference, an EU official said.
The Turkish Oruc Reis survey ship has been moving between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete, shadowed by a number of Greek frigates. On Wednesday, the Limnos was approaching the Oruc Reis when it came onto the path of one of its Turkish naval escorts, the Kemal Reis.
The defence source said that the Greek frigate carried out a manoeuvre to prevent a direct collision, and in the process, its bow touched the rear of the Turkish frigate, which he described as a “mini collision.”
“It was an accident,” the source said, adding that the Limnos was not damaged as it later participated in a joint military exercise with France off the island of Crete on Thursday morning.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday that Athens needs to act with reason and called on the European Union to stop “pampering” Greece. Turkey has also cautioned France to stay out of the row.
Greece should not attempt to provoke Oruc Reis like it did two days ago or it will receive a response, Cavusoglu said, adding the European Union should not give it “unconditional support.”
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Vienna on Friday, said he hoped all parties involved would act in conformity with international law.
“Everything can be solved, but this is a question that must be directed to the Turks,” he added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the frigate Kemal Reis had fended off an attack by Greek ships and also warned of a response.
Greece and Turkey are both members of NATO, but their relations have been fraught with tension for a long time. Their differences range from the boundaries of the continental shelf and airspace to the ethnically divided island of Cyprus. In 1996, the two countries were about to go to war due to a dispute over the ownership of small uninhabited islands in the Aegean Sea.
An EU official said that European Council President Charles Michel indicated in a phone call with Erdogan on Thursday the European Union’s full solidarity with Greece. The official added that Michel called for de-escalation and said that provocations should be avoided while favouring dialogue.
That line was reiterated at the EU foreign ministers’ meeting. An EU official said Greece had urged sanctions against Turkey, while bloc countries emphasized the need to de-escalate tensions and negotiate. The situation will be reviewed again at a meeting in Berlin at the end of the month.
Cavusoglu said Switzerland had offered to mediate a solution to the conflict between Turkey and Greece, and that Ankara had agreed to this in principle.