NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that Athens and Ankara have agreed to enter into “technical talks” to set up military deconfliction measures to reduce the possibility of any incident in the eastern Mediterranean.
In recent weeks, Turkey and Greece have engaged in a tense standoff in the disputed waters over offshore energy exploration rights, with both sides deploying warships to the region in an effort to show their resolve to protect their sovereignty. This has raised concerns about conflict erupting in the eastern Mediterranean by accident, and Stoltenberg said NATO could serve as the platform for consultations between the two member states to avoid such a situation.
While the talks are expected to be purely military in nature, observers are hoping they offer an opening for further dialogue. Germany has already launched a diplomatic effort to engage the two countries in a dialogue, but their uncompromising demands have stalled the potential for any kind of progress on that front.
Earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara would not be intimidated by European powers (like France) rallying behind Greece. Referring to the European Union (EU)’s threat of sanctions against the country, Erdogan accused the bloc of using Greece as “bait” against a “regional and global power like Turkey”. Erdogan also extended the gas exploration mission of the Oruç Reis until September 12. Furthermore, Ankara announced on Thursday that Russia will conduct live-fire naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean from September 8-22 and September 12-25 in the area where the Oruç Reis and its auxiliary vessels are operating.
The Greek government has said that the exercises were being “monitored by all the countries in the region, as well as our NATO allies and European Union partners”. Athens has also said that though it has noted the NATO chief’s intention to initiate de-escalation talks, there will be no dialogue unless Ankara withdraws its ships from the area.
NATO: Greece, Turkey Ready for “Technical Talks” About Tensions in The Mediterranean
Athens however, has said that there will be no dialogue unless Ankara withdraws its ships from the area.
September 4, 2020
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. SOURCE: LOWY INSTITUTE