Drumms of war in eastern mediteranean.

[AnthoniusII]

Turkey placed its oil drill Fatih inside the Cyprus' Economic zone 74 Kms west of Paphos.
Cyprus is about to publish international arrest warrant for the crews of Fatih and the escort ships.
US Embassy in Cyprus made a statement:

The United States discourages any action or rhetoric that increases tensions in the region, a statement by a spokesman for the US Embassy in Cyprus said today.

According to their long-standing policy - added in the statement - the United States recognizes the right of the Republic of Cyprus to develop its resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone and believe that the oil and gas resources of the island should be allocated fairly between the two communities in the context of a comprehensive settlement.

"A fair and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem would greatly facilitate the development of resources and help to ensure that all Cypriots benefit," the US Embassy spokesman in Cyprus concludes.

Also the Republic of Egypt warned that any kind of such action could cause a conflict in the area.

Cairo describes that action as a "provocative act of Turkey", "a flagrant violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus in accordance with the International Law and the Law of the European Union".
Egypt is watching with concern the ongoing developments in what has been announced about Turkey's intentions to proceed with gas extraction in Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in its western maritime region. "

Turkey announced that does not intent to back up.
Greek President from Crete said that Greece is ready to defend its rights in the region also.
The Greek Foreign Afairs ministry published this :

We condemn Turkey's decision to conduct illegal drilling in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus.

We call on Turkey to stop its illegal activities immediately, to respect the inalienable rights of the sovereign Republic of Cyprus for the benefit of the entire Cypriot people, and to refrain from further actions that undermine stability in the region, as well as the resumption of talks on a fair and a viable solution to the Cyprus problem. We welcome the cool and sober attitude of the Republic of Cyprus, which reaffirms its role as a pillar of stability and a credible partner in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece recalls the content of the March 2018 European Council Conclusions and subsequent EU positions and remains in constant communication and co-ordination with the Republic of Cyprus and its Community partners and allies for the next appropriate action.

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federico Mogherini, has expressed "great concern" over Turkey's declared intention to drill in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Cyprus.
Recalling that in March 2018 the European Council strongly condemned Turkey's continuing illegal activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, Mogerini urged Turkey "to urge Turkey to show restraint, to respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus in its Exclusive Economic Zone and to abstain from any such illegal action to which the European Union will respond in an appropriate manner and in full solidarity with Cyprus. "

All those could be another act of "who is the boss" theatre in both sides but in the same area Fatih and its escort of 3 suport ships, 1 Frigade and one submarine, there are Greek Frigades and Submarines, Egyptian naval task force and multiple EU war ships from France and Germany. We remind that a week ago France and Cyprus signed a defence pact of aid against ant threats.

Sources:
Turkey to begin drilling for resources around Cyprus
NAVTEX
MarineTraffic
UK watching developments in the region with concern (Update 2)

[Heathen Hammer]

I'm quite curious to know what would happen to NATO if a "hot" conflict between turkey and Greece would occur.

[sumskilz]

Federico Mogherini, has expressed "great concern"

The Turks must be terrified.

[PointOfViewGun]

I really don't understand what's so hard about finding an English source for any of this...

UK watching developments in the region with concern (Update 2)

Cyprus on Sunday called on the Turkish drill ship “Fatih” and supporting vessels to immediately cease illegal actions in the country’s exclusive economic zone and warned with a message through Radio Cyprus that individuals and companies supporting illegal actions would face all consequences, including an international arrest warrant.

Anyone can check MarineTraffic website to see where Fatih drill ship is currently located. The ship seems to be in the top large area in the map in OP's link, not one of the numbered areas. It's not on any offshore licensing block that we have ever seen.

The NAVTEX issued by Turkey:

TURNHOS N/W : 0560/19
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
DRILLING OPERATIONS, BY FATİH, SIEM KORKUT, SIEM ALTAN AND SIEM SANCAR BETWEEN 03 MAY-03 SEP 19 IN AREA BOUNDED BY;
34 55.32 N - 031 29.25 E
34 55.33 N - 031 31.68 E
34 53.33 N - 031 31.72 E
34 53.30 N - 031 29.28 E
WIDE BERTH REQUESTED.

Turkey to begin drilling for resources around Cyprus

Turkey will start drilling around Cyprus because the Greek Cypriot government did not listen to Ankara’s suggestions to ensure the rights of Turkish Cypriots, Çavuşoğlu said during an interview following a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı on Jan. 25.

This drilling project was well known months before...

[alhoon]

Well, I hope that Turkey will finally face the consequences for this blatant disregard of international law. The crews should be arrested and face the music.

[NorseThing]

The problem is one of who recognizes whom in the international community; The EU does not recognize Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus but does recognize Republic of Cyprus. Turkey has this reversed and neither Republic of Cyprus no the Turkish Republic on Northern Cyprus recognize the other. So naturally both claim to be following internationally recognized protocol.

It does not matter how much time has elapsed between the initial announcement planning to drill and actually placing equipment in position. It is the drilling and not the announcement that is the real 'violation' being discussed. I put violation in quotes. Parties will need to agree on international arbitration to settle this. And, no the opening post is misleading. This is not leading to conflict. The conflict already exists. Conflict is not the same as war. Just look at the EU and the USA with long lists of conflicts (read disagreements) with other countries.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

The problem is one of who recognizes whom in the international community; The EU does not recognize Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus but does recognize Republic of Cyprus. Turkey has this reversed and neither Republic of Cyprus no the Turkish Republic on Northern Cyprus recognize the other. So naturally both claim to be following internationally recognized protocol.

It does not matter how much time has elapsed between the initial announcement planning to drill and actually placing equipment in position. It is the drilling and not the announcement that is the real 'violation' being discussed. I put violation in quotes. Parties will need to agree on international arbitration to settle this. And, no the opening post is misleading. This is not leading to conflict. The conflict already exists. Conflict is not the same as war. Just look at the EU and the USA with long lists of conflicts (read disagreements) with other countries.

Thing is, this specific location is west of the republic of Cyprus, north Cyprus doesn't claim it, Turkey does. Turkey pretends that their EEZ is like this:
Fatih's current location, comparing with the Marine traffic website Setekh linked, is approximately in the south-east part of the white star of the flag.
So really, this isn't an issue related to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, but rather to Turkish maritime claims.

[AnthoniusII]

You can see Fatih's place live here: https://www.marinetraffic.com/el/ais...ry:35.0/zoom:9
@nhytgbvfeco2
You are right. Turkey violates all International Laws abou Exclusive Economical Zones ignoring the EXISTANCE of the Greek Island of Kastelorizo
In fact THE Law about Economical zones create this map that actually isoalates Turkey.
The law about EEZ that more than 148 countries signed exept Turkey and 2 few others recognise Every Island that has population on it ti have its own EEZ.
So UN, EU recognises this as the eastern Mediteranean EEZones:


Turkey uses her military power to "read" the inetrnational laws -that does not acnowlege- the way that is rediculous. In Previus attempts Turkey does not recognise the island of Crete to have its own EEZ so the Turkish EEZ conevts with the one of Libya's!
I am afraid that Erdogan -that demands new ellections for Ancara and Constantinople - will use a war to sally Turks from all political spectrum under his leadership.
The situation is now on a sword's edge. The entire Greek submarine fleet is on their positions and you can not see them in live ships movements.
Edit: US State Department repeated its warnings to Turkey :
You can read ST DEPT Morgan Ortagus's tweet here : https://www.ptisidiastima.com/state-...n-cypriot-eez/

Someone aksed what US will do in case of a warm conflict. The answer is nothing unless Israel and Egypt will also involve to the conflict. Then US (that today passes the law that forbites Turkey to take F-35s) will chose to defend 4 allies than one that is not stable and trasworthy the last ten years at all. What I am afraid is what will happen if Cypriot Coast Guard vessel will make real the warrant to arrest Fatih's crew! Knowing the capabillities of the Greek Type 214 SUBMARINES and already served in Thrace in 1996 in a Tank Brigade , what will follow will be a hell's loose!
EDIT 2:

The Turks must be terrified.

You are right .Turkey can only laugh with EU's threats. I remind you that Greek Armed Forces are the biggest in EU combined all other EU armed forces together -if we exclude Polland-...
But in the recent past many great powers undersatimated the abillity of Greeks tp fight to the end even when they are outnumbered or have outdated equipment.
For example in Cyprus in Attila II operation 3 companies of infantry armed with ww2 weapons killed and wounded 2000 turks and destroyed over 100 APCs and tanks. The Turkish leader of that attack against those greeks suicided under the shame. Greeks had 80 soldiers and 2 Captains dead!

[PointOfViewGun]

Thing is, this specific location is west of the republic of Cyprus, north Cyprus doesn't claim it, Turkey does. Turkey pretends that their EEZ is like this:
Fatih's current location, comparing with the Marine traffic website Setekh linked, is approximately in the south-east part of the white star of the flag.
So really, this isn't an issue related to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, but rather to Turkish maritime claims.

To be exact, it looks more like the ship is sort of right where the western wing of the star starts which is about 40 nm west of Payia. Based on what the foreign minister says though it is certainly a response to Southern Cyprus's unilateral decision to drill in the south.

So UN, EU recognises this as the eastern Mediteranean EEZones:

Well, that map violates the principle of equity of UNCLOS, so its not exactly a good representation of what's legal.

[AnthoniusII]

To be exact, it looks more like the ship is sort of right where the western wing of the star starts which is about 40 nm west of Payia. Based on what the foreign minister says though it is certainly a response to Southern Cyprus's unilateral decision to drill in the south.


Well, that map violates the principle of equity of UNCLOS, so its not exactly a good representation of what's legal.

My friend you seam to skip many chapters of that law... The extention of coastlines refers to countries that do not have islands between them!
If the total line of coast would be that important the 3000 big or small islands would make the entire mediteranean sea a greek lake! But you forget the island of Castelorizo.
If you simply ignore Castelorizo then you can not use legal rights on a law your country never signed! Signed or not that International law commites every nation has coast lines and islands.
So READ AGAIN the law that spesificaly mentions that EVERY ISLAND NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR BIG IT IS has its own EEZ.

[PointOfViewGun]

My friend you seam to skip many chapters of that law... The extention of coastlines refers to countries that do not have islands between them!
If the total line of coast would be that important the 3000 big or small islands would make the entire mediteranean sea a greek lake! But you forget the island of Castelorizo.
If you simply ignore Castelorizo then you can not use legal rights on a law your country never signed! Signed or not that International law commites every nation has coast lines and islands.
So READ AGAIN the law that spesificaly mentions that EVERY ISLAND NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR BIG IT IS has its own EEZ.

I'm not sure where I mentioned extension of coastlines. The UNCLOS has the principle of equity. Time after time again various courts, agreements, or arbitration decision they didn't grant islands %100 of an EEZ that would happen in a vacuum. So, you need to realize that even if we utilize UNCLOS it's clauses are not to be interpreted in a vacuum. This is true for Kastellorizo.

[alhoon]

Well, that map violates the principle of equity of UNCLOS, so its not exactly a good representation of what's legal.

It may not sound fair to Turkey, but it is what is accepted as legal by the UN and EU. Hence they tell Turkey to gather up their things and get out of Cyprus' EEZ.

[Nebaki]

How it comes even Russia has a balanced Border with Turkey and many other Nations that are being Turkeys Neighbour except "Greece". The Cyprus dispute started on 1963 and ended with 1974 with a Invasion from Turkey - in 1973 Greece already occupied Islands on the Aegean which are not belonging to them since today and after one Year they started an Coup on Cyprus which should end with the total Annexion to Greece.

In my Opinion Turkey has other troubles then always with Dealing with Greece.

[Odenat]

Funny that our Greek friends here "forgot" to mention that UNCLOS is not ratified by other Eastern Mediterranean countries like Israel, Syria and Lebanon too. So, the maps that you draw at your homes at Athens have no value whatsoever at the open sea. But i must include that Athonius II's map that give 90%of Eastern Mediterranean to Greece&South Cyprus made me laugh a lot. I mean according to your map, we do not have the right to swim at Aegean sea, because if i put my feet inside the sea, i'll enter to Greece.

By the way, international law is such a fickle thing; at 1912, Aegean islands belonged to Turkey according to international law. What did Greece do, did they honored it? Isn't it strange that Greeks ask from Turkey to honor international laws they themselves not honored when they were strong and we were weak?

[nhytgbvfeco2]

Funny that our Greek friends here "forgot" to mention that UNCLOS is not ratified by other Eastern Mediterranean countries like Israel, Syria and Lebanon too.

Lebanon is signatory to UNCLOS.

So, the maps that you draw at your homes at Athens have no value whatsoever at the open sea. But i must include that Athonius II's map that give 90%of Eastern Mediterranean to Greece&South Cyprus made me laugh a lot. I mean according to your map, we do not have the right to swim at Aegean sea, because if i put my feet inside the sea, i'll enter to Greece.

The Turkish claims do the same to Cyprus and especially to the Greek island of Kastelorizo.

By the way, international law is such a fickle thing; at 1912, Aegean islands belonged to Turkey according to international law. What did Greece do, did they honored it? Isn't it strange that Greeks ask from Turkey to honor international laws they themselves not honored when they were strong and we were weak?

And in 1920 Izmir/Smyrna belonged to Greece. So? Did Turkey respect the treaty of Sevres? Treaties from the past that are overwritten by newer treaties (Treaty of Lusanne, in this case) are irrelevant.

[AnthoniusII]

How it comes even Russia has a balanced Border with Turkey and many other Nations that are being Turkeys Neighbour except "Greece". The Cyprus dispute started on 1963 and ended with 1974 with a Invasion from Turkey - in 1973 Greece already occupied Islands on the Aegean which are not belonging to them since today and after one Year they started an Coup on Cyprus which should end with the total Annexion to Greece.
In my Opinion Turkey has other troubles then always with Dealing with Greece.

Unless you did not go to school in 1912 Greece DEFEATED TWICE the Turkish Navy and libarated the Aegean Islands including Imbros and Tenedos.
But in 1923 Treaty Imbros and Tenedos returned to Turkey and Turkey SIGNED that ALL THE REST EAGEAN ISLANDS are Greek (exept those that were still under Italian rule).
But thank you for your post. The word INVASION you use says the truth....Thank you being honest!!

Funny that our Greek friends here "forgot" to mention that UNCLOS is not ratified by other Eastern Mediterranean countries like Israel, Syria and Lebanon too. So, the maps that you draw at your homes at Athens have no value whatsoever at the open sea. But i must include that Athonius II's map that give 90%of Eastern Mediterranean to Greece&South Cyprus made me laugh a lot. I mean according to your map, we do not have the right to swim at Aegean sea, because if i put my feet inside the sea, i'll enter to Greece.

By the way, international law is such a fickle thing; at 1912, Aegean islands belonged to Turkey according to international law. What did Greece do, did they honored it? Isn't it strange that Greeks ask from Turkey to honor international laws they themselves not honored when they were strong and we were weak?

Does Kemal's SIGNATURE is invalid in the treaties he signed? If NOT then RESPECT Kemal that he made Turkey what is today. But by respecting Kemal you must RESPECT his signatures!!!!!
Desition is yours.

[ioannis76]

So, Turkey couldn't help but demonstrate its status as a pirate country, and it went ahead and commenced drilling operations in Cypriot EEZ:

EU warns Turkey against drilling off Cyprus

https://www.france24.com/en/20190504...ing-off-cyprus

The reaction is, of course, extremely mild, to the point of it being non-existent, as one would expect from an entity such as the EU. The point, of course is that Cypriot/Greek troops should already have boarded the "Fatih".

EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini on Saturday urged Turkey to reconsider plans to start exploratory drilling for oil and gas off Cyprus, already condemned as illegal by the European Union.

[Aexodus]

What would the usual penalty for violating someone else’s EEZ be?

[nhytgbvfeco2]

I'd imagine that it depends on the severity of the violation. It's a question of how long is Turkey going to be violating it for.

[AnthoniusII]

What would the usual penalty for violating someone else’s EEZ be?

I'd imagine that it depends on the severity of the violation. It's a question of how long is Turkey going to be violating it for.

When it comes to powerfull states such Turkey ,penalty is not the issue.
What is the worst scenario is that Cyprus Coast Guard with that warrand can arrest all european citizens that are 95% of Fatih's crew. To do so though the Coast Guard Vessel must aproach the Fatih that does not belong to an EU member and its guarded by a Frigade not to mention other Turkish war ships. In that case Cyprus can activate article 5 (if i remember the number corectly) asking for military aid. Do not expect the German Frigade to help the Cypriot Vessel nore the french one. What is dangerus though is that in the area there is a Hellenic Frigade that is also an EU member. The same time Cyprus and Israel and Cyprus and Egypt signed defence aid treaties. Both countries have warships in the area and also have open "deals" with Turkey. Lets supose that the cypriot Coast Guard aproaches Fatih and is under fire from the Turkish Frigade. That would open the doors of hell! The Greek Frigade would return fire and as i mentioned before all greek submarines are outside anywhere ...The last NATO exersise in Sicely that Greece had a Type 214 submarine proved the design's advandages. It sunk two warships and none of the surfase ships ever managed to locate it ...That means that what will follow such a hot incident may become a full scale war between Turkey, Greece, Cyprus , Israel and Egypt. Turkey has more and modern ships but all their naval bases can be blocked quite easy..In any case we would talk for a real war....