Tensions in the eastern Mediterranean has soared due to the issues between Turkey and Greece.
Turkey sent an exploration vessel, accompanied by a Navy fleet, to the disputed waters.
What is the trigger?
Turkey and Greece have historically shared troublesome relations.
But, the trigger for the recent hostility between them has been the discovery of gas in the Mediterranean waters.
The European Union (EU) has planned to transport the gas to its mainland, which would help reduce its dependency on Russia.
This has raised the region’s geopolitical profile.
Turkey and Greece have overlapping maritime claims.
How was Turkey treated?
The EU members and its allies in West Asia and Africa planned to build a gas pipeline from the Mediterranean to Europe’s mainland.
But they kept Turkey out of it, which infuriated Ankara.
In the early 2020, the EastMed Gas Forum was formed by Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestine.
Turkey was again excluded from this Forum.
What did Turkey do?
Turkey challenged the pipeline project and reached an agreement with Libya’s Tripoli-based government.
According to this agreement, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will be formed from Turkey’s southern shores to Libya’s northern coast across the Mediterranean.
How did Greece respond?
Greece claimed that the Turkish zone violated its maritime sovereignty.
Later, Greece announced its EEZ with Egypt, which clashes with Turkey’s zone.
Immediately thereafter, Turkey sent its survey ship over.
What is the potential of this issue?
This complicated issue has the potential to involve Europe, West Asia and North Africa.
It is difficult to demarcate the maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, which is dotted with Turkish and Greek islands.
Cyprus is physically divided with the southern part ruled by a recognised government and the northern part controlled by Turkey.
Turkey’s survey ship plans exploration activities around Greece’s Crete Island.
But Crete Island lies just outside the Turkish-Libya economic zone.
Greece and Cyprus call this a violation of their sovereignty.
What is the alliance?
France, the EU’s most powerful military force, has thrown its weight behind Greece and Cyprus.
Now, an alliance is emerging among Greece, Cyprus, Italy and France, which is backed by Egypt, Israel and the UAE.
Turkey stands almost isolated, but remains a key power in the Mediterranean.
What should the EU do?
If the EU wants to transport gas from the coast of Israel to Europe via Cyprus and Italy, an open conflict with Turkey cannot help.
In everybody’s interest, tensions should be dialled down.
A diplomatic and mutually acceptable solution to the gas contest should be found.
Excluding Turkey, which has a long Mediterranean coast, is unwise.
Allowing a resurgent Turkey to bully smaller powers in the region would be strategically disastrous.
The EU has to strike a balance between these two options.
