Analysis- Mediterranean Disputes... 4 Scenarios on Horizon

Amid the renewed crisis between Turkey and the European Union in the Mediterranean, Ankara has backed off its commitments.

Hence, Greek sources pointed out on Thursday to four possible scenarios for escalation near the Greek island of Kastellorizo in the Mediterranean Sea.

Those sources reported to Al-Arabiya that the authorities have got prepared to face four scenarios for the escalation of the crisis, which are summarized as follows:

First: Preparing to face the possibility of Turkey drilling activities in waters between 6 and 12 miles in relation to the coast of Kastellorizo ​​Island, but without using military force.

Second: The use of military force to prevent the Turkish exploration vessel from operating in the specified area.

Third: This scenario, ready since last August, requires confronting Turkish provocations near the islands of Roe and Stungole, which are located near the island of Kastellorizo.

Fourth: The last scenario is that Turkey takes the initiative to send the exploration vessel "Yavuz" to the area where the "Uruç Reis" vessel was carrying out seismic surveys in the past weeks. 

This scenario may be the scenario of a military confrontation, as Greece insists on protecting its territorial sovereignty.

This comes after a Greek government spokesman considered that Ankara had backed off its commitments for the second time within a short period of time.

According to the spokesman, Greece believes that it is "facing a double provocation from Turkey, and this proves that Ankara is not trustworthy and is also underestimating the results of the European Union summit held early his month."

According to the same speaker, the Greek Prime Minister and the President of Cyprus will brief the European Union leaders on the latest challenges posed by Turkey.

It is noteworthy that the island of Kastellorizo ​​is the smallest of the Greek islands located in the regional section of Rhodes in the south of the Aegean in eastern Greece, and it is less than two kilometers separated from the Turkish coasts. Thus, it is one of the disputed islands between Turkey and Greece.