Turkey, Greece Tensions Rise Over Ship in Aegean Sea

The Turkish research vessel "Piri Reis" has set off into the Aegean Sea, following a route announced by NAVTEX. This is an international notification system that informs ships about safe routes, military exercises, and scientific expeditions. Turkey informed about the route in advance, but Greece immediately issued its own NAVTEX, warning the Turkish ship "not to enter Greek waters."

The Greek press emphasized that the "Piri Reis" is under the constant surveillance of the navy, and the route passes through a zone that Athens calls a "permanent military exercise zone." In Greece, they assume that the ship is being deliberately directed to an area where it could be subjected to unintentional fire.

The main reason for Athens' irritation is not even the ship's route, but the agreement between Turkey and Libya on maritime economic zones. It hinders the implementation of the Nicosia-Athens submarine cable project (an underwater line between the capitals of Cyprus and Greece), which is important not only for energy but also for the delimitation of maritime borders.

It seems that until these issues are finally settled, Turkey and Greece will continue to exchange NAVTEX notices and periodically have tense relations.