GREEK NAVY IN MEDITERRANEAN STAND-OFF WITH TURKISH SHIPS

▶ Tension in the eastern Mediterranean continues to grow after research ship makes waves

Greece sent the majority of its navy to the waters between Crete and Cyprus after a Turkish research vessel and warships arrived in the area.

The Greek vessels, accompanied by submarines, formed a line to block the research ship Oruc Reis, which sailed near the Greek islands on Monday.

Images published by Turkey’s Ministry of Defence showed the seismic research vessel flanked by five warships.

Greek military sources cited in the country’s media suggested Turkey sent at least 17 ships to the waters between the Greek islands of Rhodes and

Kastelorizo, in addition to the warships that accompanied the Oruc Reis.

The research vessel began the seismic analysis process by dropping cables, but cannot continue its survey because of its proximity to Greek ships.

With tension increasing between the countries, the Turkish coastguard said yesterday that a Greek vessel opened fire on a private Turkish boat off Rhodes. Two Turkish citizens and a Syrian were injured in the incident.

Athens and Ankara are locked in a long-running dispute over access to waters in the eastern Mediterranean that are rich in natural resources.

At the heart of the disagreement are areas that border the Greek islands in the region. Greece says Turkey has no legal claim to the waters.

The dispute has drawn in other Mediterranean nations and is even having an effect on the conflict in Libya.

In December, Ankara and the UN-backed Government of National Accord in Tripoli signed an agreement on maritime borders that favoured Turkey. Ankara promised military support in return.

Last week, Greece and Egypt agreed a deal over maritime borders in the area, an agreement backed by the UAE.

Turkey criticised the Cairo agreement, calling it a provocation.

Last week, Turkey said it would conduct military exercises off its south-west coast, near Rhodes.

“Greece will not accept any blackmail. It will defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights,” Greece’s foreign ministry said.

“We call on Turkey to immediately end its illegal actions that undermine peace and security in the region.”

Germany and Nato, of which both Turkey and Greece are members, attempted to defuse the situation.

Turkey said it was forced to withdraw from German-backed talks over maritime boundaries because of the deal Greece signed with Egypt.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel intervened in another stand-off between Turkey and Greece.

On Monday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called a meeting of the country’s National Security Council and held talks with European Council President Charles Michel over Greece’s maritime deal with Egypt.

Mr Mitsotakis also spoke to Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday. “The situation must be resolved in a spirit of allied solidarity and in accordance with international law,” Mr Stoltenberg said.