Türkiye issues counter-NAVTEX over Greek Eunomia exercise

Türkiye has responded with a counter-NAVTEX to Greece’s notice for the Eunomia exercise, which Greece is conducting in the eastern Mediterranean with four countries. Ankara said the area falls within Türkiye’s jurisdiction and under the responsibility of the Antalya station.

Greece, France, Italy and the Southern Cyprus partnership are taking part in the exercise, which is due to end on 22 October. Warships, submarines, fighter jets, helicopters and special operations forces are involved in the drill, which covers the area east of the Kaşot and Kerpe islands and near Cyprus. The zone overlaps the route of the planned GSI undersea power cable, which would cross Türkiye’s continental shelf and run from Southern Cyprus to Israel.

Greece’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavru, said Greece does not need Türkiye’s permission for the GSI project. “Full stop. We are moving forward normally, in line with our own planning, with the participation of international investors and with the full support of the United States,” Papastavru said. He argued that Greece’s sovereign rights are not subject to the approval of any authority. About two years ago, Turkish and Greek warships faced off in the same area over the project.