Greece moves in naval fleet to Mediterranean over Turkish encroachment

Nato and Germany have tried to mediate maritime dispute amid growing tensions in eastern Mediterranean

Turkey's research vessel, 'Oruc Reis', centre, is surrounded by Turkish navy vessels as it was heading in the west of Antalya on the Mediterranean AP

Greece has moved in almost its entire naval fleet in response to manoeuvres in the eastern Mediterranean by a Turkish research vessel and accompanying warships.

The Greek vessels, which are accompanied by submarines and aircraft, have formed a line blocking any further advance by the Turkish research ship Oruc Reis, which arrived between Crete and Cyprus on Monday.

Turkey’s Ministry of Defence released photos of the seismic research vehicle moving while flanked closely by five warships.

The Greek press has reported that in total Turkey has more than 17 ships in the contested waters between the Greek islands of Rhodes and Kastellorizo.

These vessels have been sent in addition to the warships accompanying the Oruc Reis.

Manoeuvres by Turkish research ship the Oruc Reis have catalysed the maritime ructions. AP

The research vessel has reportedly started dropping cables, part of the seismic analysis process, but cannot continue its survey because of its proximity to hostile Greek ships.

The Turkish coastguard said a Greek vessel opened fire on a private Turkish boat. Two Turkish citizens and a Syrian were injured in the incident.

The naval build-up in the region was sparked by the departure of the Oruc Reis from its port in Antalya, Turkey.

An enduring maritime conflict

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

At the heart of the disagreement are areas that border the many Greek islands in the region.

Turkey’s claims to the waters, which it says are on its continental shelf, have repeatedly been dismissed as illegal by Greece and its allies.

Map shows competing maritime borders according to agreements made by Athens and Cairo, Tripoli and Ankara

The old dispute between Greece and Turkey has increasingly drawn in other Mediterranean nations and intersected with Libya’s violent internal conflict.

In December, Ankara and Libya’s Government of National Accord in Tripoli signed an agreement on maritime borders that favoured Turkey.

In exchange, Ankara promised military support to the government in Tripoli.

Last week, Greece and Egypt agreed to their one maritime border deal in the area.

The UAE has thrown its weight behind the Greek-Egyptian deal.

Turkey has railed against the Cairo agreement, calling it a provocation.

Last week, it said it would be conducting military exercises on Monday and Tuesday in a nearby area, south-west of the Turkish coast between Turkey and the Greek island of 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."

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (L) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (R) hold up signed documents after signing maritime border agreement in Cairo, Egypt, 06 August 2020 EPA

Germany and Nato, of which Turkey and Greece are members, have tried to defuse the situation.

Turkey has said Greece’s deal with Egypt forced it to withdraw from German-organised talks over the maritime boundaries.

Simmering tensions boil over

Last month, during a similar standoff in the region, a confrontation was narrowly avoided only after an intervention by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Differences in policy in the eastern Mediterranean have brought into sharp focus contradictions within Nato and in the EU.

On Monday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called a meeting of the country’s national security council and spoke to European Council President Charles Michel about Greece’s deal with Egypt.

The Greek leader spoke to Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday evening.

"The situation must be resolved in a spirit of allied solidarity and in accordance with international law," Mr Stoltenberg said later.

Greece plans to request an extraordinary meeting of the EU’s foreign affairs council over the continuing tension.