• About
  • Contact
  • News Tips
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Nordic Monitor
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Give us a tip!
  • About Us
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Give us a tip!
  • About Us
No Result
View All Result
Nordic Monitor
No Result
View All Result
Home EditorsPick

US ‘deplores’ what it considers Turkey’s ‘calculated provocation’ in eastern Mediterranean

by Nordic Monitor
October 16, 2020
Turkey suspended its gas and oil exploration plans following US intervention
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare On TelegramShare On Whatsapp

Nordic Monitor

 

In an official statement, US State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said the US deplores what it considers to be the Turkish government’s “calculated provocation” in the eastern Mediterranean.

On Sunday Turkey issued a new Navtex for the Oruç Reis seismic exploration vessel to carry out activities south of Kastellorizo (Meis), a Greek island located two kilometers off Turkey’s southern coast near the resort town of Kaş, until October 22. The vessel will carry out seismic studies in the eastern Mediterranean together with two other vessels, the Ataman and the Cengiz Han.

Turkey’s move came a day after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s ratification of a joint Egypt-Greece maritime demarcation agreement to establish an exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The strongly worded statement revealed the US stance against the Turkish government’s maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean while defining Turkey’s unilateral action as a “calculated provocation.” The US statement responding to Turkey’s seismic exploration plans also exposes how the US views the Turkish government’s militarized foreign policy moves in its region and beyond.

“Coercion, threats, intimidation, and military activity will not resolve tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. We urge Turkey to end this calculated provocation and immediately begin exploratory talks with Greece. Unilateral actions cannot build trust and will not produce enduring solutions,” the statement said.

“The United States deplores Turkey’s October 11 announcement of renewed Turkish survey activity in areas over which Greece asserts jurisdiction in the Eastern Mediterranean,” it said, adding, “Turkey’s announcement unilaterally raises tensions in the region and deliberately complicates the resumption of crucial exploratory talks between our NATO Allies Greece and Turkey.”

In July Turkey temporarily suspended its research plans for oil and gas exploration in the region following a German diplomatic initiative and a move by the US military. US and Greek forces conducted a joint naval exercise with the participation of elements of the US 6th Fleet in the last week of July.

 

Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus (Source: US State Department).

 

On July 21 Turkey issued a Navigational Telex (NAVTEX 977/20) for its search for oil and gas to the south and east of Kastellorizo (Meis). A day later, another Navtex was issued by Greece in response to the advisory published by Turkey’s navy.

As the tensions were rising, German Chancellor Angela Merkel intervened by holding phone calls with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to prevent a possible military confrontation.

Then, the US Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) took part in naval surface exercises with the Hellenic Navy in the eastern Mediterranean from July 24 to 28. The CSG conducts operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations in Europe and Africa.

 

 

Following Turkey’s announcement, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called off a visit to Ankara to demonstrate his country’s solidarity with Cyprus and Greece. Maas was planning a three-stop trip including Turkey, Greece and Cyprus.

“My decision only to travel to Nicosia and Athens today is owing to the current developments that we have been talking about,” Maas said on Tuesday, according to Deutsche Welle.

“We appeal to Turkey to refrain from closing the dialogue window that has just opened with Greece through unilateral measures,” he stressed and warned that the renewed Turkish gas explorations “would be a severe setback for efforts to de-escalate and thus for the further development of EU-Turkey relations.”

 

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (Source: German Foreign Service).

 

President al-Sisi on Saturday issued a decree approving the maritime deal between Egypt and Greece. Presidential decree (No 444) “was based on the desire of the two countries to contribute to the stability of the region, in good faith, in accordance with international law as well as their desire in enhancing mutual cooperation, neighborly relations and bonds of friendship.”

Egypt’s official gazette published the text of the agreement, which stipulates that in the event natural resources, including hydrocarbon stocks, are found to extend from one party’s exclusive economic zone to the exclusive economic zone of the other, both sides must cooperate in reaching an exploitation agreement for these resources, Gulf News reported.

 

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

 

The US and German interventions in the crisis have triggered a new dialogue between Turkey and Greece under the NATO umbrella. Two weeks ago NATO hosted a series of technical talks between Turkish and Greek military delegations, which resulted in an agreement on “a bilateral military deconfliction mechanism.” The agreement also included establishing a hotline for use by senior officials from both countries to prevent a military confrontation over the dispute.

During a visit to Ankara on October 5, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said: “The de-confliction mechanism can help to create the space for diplomatic efforts. It is my firm hope that the underlying disputes can now be addressed purely through negotiations, in the spirit of Allied solidarity and international law.”

Ongoing tensions between Greece and Turkey in a territorial dispute over offshore gas and oil claims in the eastern Mediterranean were further exacerbated after Turkey signed a maritime demarcation deal with Tripoli’s Government of National Accord (GNA) in November, 2019, aiming to give Turkey extended access for hydrocarbon drilling rights in the region.

Turkey and Greece, both NATO members, claim the right to drill in the same areas in the same part of the eastern Mediterranean.

Previous Post

EU’s Turkey report underlines widespread corruption involving politicians

Next Post

Turkish officials asked ISIS terrorist who killed 39 people to provide false statement against Gülen

Nordic Monitor

Nordic Monitor

[email protected]

Next Post
Turkish officials asked ISIS terrorist who killed 39 people to provide false statement against Gülen

Turkish officials asked ISIS terrorist who killed 39 people to provide false statement against Gülen

Donate

Follow Us

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Turkish judge on Europe’s top human rights court acts as Erdoğan’s Trojan horse

Turkish judge on Europe’s top human rights court acts as Erdoğan’s Trojan horse

January 16, 2021
Turkey’s top security official suspected of being a drug kingpin

Turkey’s top security official suspected of being a drug kingpin

January 21, 2021
IRGC Quds Force set up a shop in Turkey’s capital to recruit militants including al-Qaeda aspirants

IRGC Quds Force set up a shop in Turkey’s capital to recruit militants including al-Qaeda aspirants

January 13, 2021
President Erdoğan’s advisor says Turkey’s intel agency will feed Swedish-based Turkish journalist to the sharks

President Erdoğan’s advisor says Turkey’s intel agency will feed Swedish-based Turkish journalist to the sharks

January 21, 2021
Turkey has a plan for the invasion of Greece, secret documents reveal

Turkey has a plan for the invasion of Greece, secret documents reveal

82
Turkish intelligence agent who runs secret ops in Libya executed false flag coup bid in 2016

Turkish intelligence agent who runs secret ops in Libya executed false flag coup bid in 2016

22
Turkish intelligence operations in Greece exposed in secret documents

Turkish intelligence operations in Greece exposed in secret documents

17
Turkish spy agency MIT involved in intelligence gathering in Australia, targeting gov’t critics

More secret documents confirming vast Turkish espionage activities in Greece uncovered

15
Turkish gov’t lays the groundwork for implementation of extradition treaty with China

Turkish gov’t lays the groundwork for implementation of extradition treaty with China

January 26, 2021
Turkish police chief who took measures to protect US, NATO and Israeli officials wrongfully jailed

Turkish police chief who took measures to protect US, NATO and Israeli officials wrongfully jailed

January 25, 2021
Turkey, Tunisia defense industry deal provides basis for joint production of military systems

Turkey, Tunisia defense industry deal provides basis for joint production of military systems

January 24, 2021
Turkish intelligence recruited nephew of Gülen as informant to infiltrate critical group

Turkish intelligence recruited nephew of Gülen as informant to infiltrate critical group

January 23, 2021

Recommended

Turkish gov’t lays the groundwork for implementation of extradition treaty with China

Turkish gov’t lays the groundwork for implementation of extradition treaty with China

January 26, 2021
Turkish police chief who took measures to protect US, NATO and Israeli officials wrongfully jailed

Turkish police chief who took measures to protect US, NATO and Israeli officials wrongfully jailed

January 25, 2021
Turkey, Tunisia defense industry deal provides basis for joint production of military systems

Turkey, Tunisia defense industry deal provides basis for joint production of military systems

January 24, 2021
Turkish intelligence recruited nephew of Gülen as informant to infiltrate critical group

Turkish intelligence recruited nephew of Gülen as informant to infiltrate critical group

January 23, 2021

Nordic Monitor

Nordic Monitor is a news web site and tracking site that is run by the Stockholm-based Nordic Research and Monitoring Network. It covers religious, ideological and ethnic extremist movements and radical groups, with a special focus on Turkey.

Tags

Abdullah Bozkurt al-Qaeda Andrei Karlov Azerbaijan China coup Cyprus Diyanet Doğu Perinçek Egypt espionage European Union Fethullah Gulen Germany Greece Gülen Movement Hakan Fidan Hulusi Akar IHH Iran ISIL ISIS Israel Libya Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu MIT Muslim Brotherhood NATO Press Freedom Qatar Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Russia SADAT Saudi Arabia Selected Article 1 Selected Article 2 Selected Article 3 spying Syria The United States Torture Turkey United States Yasin al-Qadi

Recent News

Turkish gov’t lays the groundwork for implementation of extradition treaty with China

Turkish gov’t lays the groundwork for implementation of extradition treaty with China

January 26, 2021
Turkish police chief who took measures to protect US, NATO and Israeli officials wrongfully jailed

Turkish police chief who took measures to protect US, NATO and Israeli officials wrongfully jailed

January 25, 2021
Turkey, Tunisia defense industry deal provides basis for joint production of military systems

Turkey, Tunisia defense industry deal provides basis for joint production of military systems

January 24, 2021

Copyright © Nordic Research and Monitoring Network All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Extremism
  • Military
  • Terrorism and Crime
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Give us a tip!
  • About Us

Copyright © Nordic Research and Monitoring Network All rights reserved.