Eastern Mediterranean

Though there is no distinction under international law, some analysts believe that a Turkish encroachment on certain areas of Cyprus' EEZ would constitute a more limited escalation.

Even if the international community would not tolerate a Turkish provocation in the Eastern Mediterranean, given the current confluence of events, we should not remain complacent.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay touted the force of the Turkish Navy in connection with Ankara’s Blue Homeland theory and noted Turkey is one of ten countries that construct their own war ships.

Erdogan has not moved an inch in pursuing a wide array of claims and challenges to Greek sovereignty, and the PM must make tough calls on what more Athens may legitimately negotiate, without compromising sovereignty and national interests.

Recent developments in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, which directly affects and endangers the security of the large ethnic Greek minority, concentrated in Mariupol in the Russian-speaking border region, were discussed.

Erdogan had declared that he will keep the issue high on Turkey’s foreign policy agenda in the future, and that Turkey will not remain silent “regarding the military activity [of Greece] in violation of agreements [treaties] that provide for demilitarisation of the islands.'

Beyond Moscow’s historical ties of friendship with Greece, Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and has repeatedly declared its dedication to the implementation of International Law of the Sea.

In the conclusions of the Libya conference, regarding the issue of the withdrawal of foreign forces, mercenaries, and troops, there is for the first time a reference to a timeframe and the immediate development of timetables, on which Greece and other participants insisted.

Pompeo, in an interview with the daily Kathimerini, described Turkey as a regional “threat” and said that it will realise that it is much better for the country to remain close to the West.

The PM’s talks with Vladimir Putin come at a time when tensions remain high in the Eastern Mediterranean, even as Turkey escalates its aggressive behaviour by openly disputing even Greece’s sovereignty in the Aegean.

'If we want to be serious and substantial in guarding European borders I see no reason why interventions such as the works being conducted at [the Greek-Turkish border region wall] at Evros cannot be funded from the EU budget,' the PM said.

“It is an agreement that recognises the mutual protection of peace and security in the region. It is the first time that this is expressed in a document and it constitutes a substantial response to Turkey’s casus belli,” he said.

Athens’ objective was to secure a statement on US respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Greece. In the final paragraph of the non-binding two-page letter, Blinken expresses respect for sovereignty and international law in general.

US-Greece relations are at the best level ever and the major bilateral defence agreement seals the relationship, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias maintained in a no-holds-barred interview with To Vima just days his departure for Washington.

“We are taking our measures against the violation of our continental shelf. The last time Greece made an incursion one nautical mile into our continental shelf [east of Crete] we issued a NAVTEX and necessary warnings.

'There are plans to conduct research east of Crete, southeast of Cyprus, violating our maritime jurisdiction. We have said that we shall never allow this. We followed through and we did not allow the ship to enter the said area.'

Milliyet's report stated that Greece, 'received the greatest support from France and the US in the [2020 Greek-Turkish] crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean'.

'We want to protect the territorial integrity of both of our countries, promoting security, stability, and prosperity in our regions.' Macron said.

In December EU leaders had proposed asset freezes and travel bans over Turkey’s “unauthorised drilling activities” for natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean.

'I am willing to meet with my Turkish counterpart and friend Mevlut Cavusoglu, but of course such a meeting must be held in a suitable climate for it to be meaningful,” said Nikos Dendias.