On Monday, the European Union (EU)’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the Turkish naval movements in the Mediterranean, after the signing of the maritime agreement between Egypt and Greece, “cause great concern".
In a statement, Borrell said that “the recent maritime mobilization in the eastern Mediterranean is of great concern,” adding that “it will lead to an increase in discord and distrust.”
The European official considered that the maritime borders should be drawn through dialogue and negotiations, and not through unilateral moves and the mobilization of naval forces.
He stressed that “disputes must be resolved according to international law,” stressing that “the European Union is committed to contributing to resolving disputes and disparities in this region of vital security importance.”
The EU official concluded, “The current course will not serve the interests of the European Union or Turkey, and we must work together for the sake of Mediterranean security.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on August 7, the resumption of hydrocarbon exploration in the disputed region of the Eastern Mediterranean, a day after the signing of a maritime agreement between Athens and Cairo that Ankara had denounced.
In December 2019, Turkey signed with the GNA, which is an interim non-elected government that is recognized by the United Nations, two MoUs on defence, and gas drilling in the Mediterranean.
The maritime border agreement was rejected by several countries such as Egypt, Greece, Cyprus and the UAE and described as an illegal act that violated the sovereignty of other Mediterranean states.
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