Turkey announced Monday, November 30, the return to port of one of its exploration vessels, the deployment of which in an area potentially rich in hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean has raised tensions with Greece and Europe.
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"
Our seismic vessel Oruç Reis has completed its research launched on August 10,
" the Turkish Ministry of Energy announced on Twitter.
The ship, according to Turkish authorities, collected data over an area extending over "
10,955 km2
" in the Mediterranean, before returning to the port of Antalya, in southern Turkey.
This announcement comes in the run-up to the European Council scheduled for December 10 and 11, which will address the issue of the implementation of new sanctions against Ankara due to its controversial exploration activities in the Mediterranean.
Heavy tensions between Ankara and Athens
The discovery, in recent years, of large gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean has triggered a race for “
blue gold
” and aroused long-standing territorial disputes.
In this context, Turkey has aroused the wrath of Greece and Cyprus by conducting exploration missions in waters claimed by Athens and Nicosia.
Tensions between Athens and Ankara have intensified with the deployment in August by Turkey of the Oruc Reis, escorted by warships, to explore off the Greek island of Kastellorizo, two km from the coast. Turkish.
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Oruc Reis had already returned to port in September, which was seen at the time by Greece and the European Union as a sign of appeasement.
But Ankara had ruled out any retreat and returned its exploration vessel to the area on October 12, Greece denouncing a "
direct threat to peace
".
Tensions between the two countries had eased somewhat after an earthquake struck both countries in late October.
But the extension of the Oruç Reis mission has provoked strong reactions from Greece, which is calling for European Union measures against Turkey.
