Turkey and Cyprus Clash Over Oil

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported on October 18 that its first seismic vessel, Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa, was harassed by a Greek frigate off the coast of Cyprus. Turkish warships from the country’s Naval Force interdicted that Greek ship. While this interaction ended peacefully, it is likely not the end of the tension between the two nations over drilling rights in the Mediterranean sea.

The Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa has been conducting operations in the Mediterranean since April 2017, assisting Turkey in its seismic research and drilling activities. With regard to this recent incident, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that they “recommend Greece to abstain from acts that would cause an escalation in the Mediterranean region.” Greece’s National Defense General Staff, on the other hand, has denied the incident took place, claiming that Turkey is trying to keep tensions at a high level because it cannot accept the area belonging to Greece. This public clash comes soon after Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement denouncing the Barbaros’ unauthorized seismic research in a section of the Greek continental shelf.

This altercation is the latest in a series of incidents that have occurred between Greece and Turkey this year. In February, their respective Coast Guards clashed, and conflict continues over ownership of the small islands in between the two countries. On July 26, Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez proclaimed that Turkey “will drill [its] first well in the Mediterranean this year.”

Greece and Turkey have long disagreed over rights to parts of the Mediterranean. Both want access to the lucrative oil that can be found in this area of the sea, as well as territory rights. Turkey’s decision to send seismic research vessels and oil drilling ships is a concrete escalation of their efforts to obtain this access. Turkey clearly remains determined to obtain oil from the Mediterranean and Greece remains determined to stop them.