The Turkish Ministry of Energy stated on Friday that the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation has applied for a license to explore for crude oil in the eastern Mediterranean. Reuters reported from a statement by the ministry published in the official gazette that "the corporation plans to carry out exploration operations in three locations in the territorial waters off the coast of Silifke in Mersin Province." Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey "will undertake the matter of oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean," which could renew tensions with the European Union and Greece amid attempts to mend strained relations.
The eastern Mediterranean region is witnessing a dispute between Turkey on one side and Greece and Cyprus on the other regarding maritime jurisdiction areas, with tensions escalating between Ankara and Athens after Turkey sent vessels in July to prospect for oil in disputed areas.
The differences between Turkey and Greece, both NATO members, pertain to the extent of each country's continental shelf in the Mediterranean, the status of Cyprus, and other maritime issues. The crisis intensified after Turkey deployed the seismic survey and exploration vessel "Oruç Reis" in contested waters in August, particularly near the Greek island of Kastellorizo, which lies near the Turkish coast and is considered rich in hydrocarbons.
The two countries resumed talks in January after a five-year hiatus, despite ongoing disputes over energy rights, sovereignty claims over Mediterranean waters, airspace, and the status of Aegean Sea islands, with little progress made between 2002 and 2016. Greek and Turkish diplomats also held rounds of talks in Athens last March, initiated after Ankara sent a diplomatic note to Greece, the EU, and Israel, urging them to obtain approval before undertaking any activities in Turkish continental shelf waters.
