Greece’s Navy has issued a navigational warning (NAVTEX) for the area around the island of Kastellorizo, Greece’s easternmost territory, for a live-fire naval exercise from Monday to Thursday.
Tension had flared up in the area, when Turkey announced that research vessel Oruc Reis would conduct a seismic survey for oil and natural gas in the area, prompting Greece to protest against the research infringing on its continental shelf.
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“We call on Turkey to immediately cease these illegal actions which violate our sovereign rights and undermine peace and security in the area,” the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement on July 21.
Turkey’s position is that Kastellorizo does not have a continental shelf.
More recently, tensions in the area appeared to be de-escalating and Oruc Reis is still berthed in the Turkish port of Antalya.