Greece has dismissed a navigational warning issued by Türkiye regarding planned offshore surveys for a new undersea natural gas pipeline. The project aims to connect southern Türkiye with the Turkish Cypriot-administered north of Cyprus, but the warning has been deemed unilateral by Greek officials, who argue it pertains to waters under Cypriot jurisdiction. They warned that Türkiye’s actions could escalate regional tensions.
The proposed pipeline is set to stretch approximately 97 kilometers and is intended to transport natural gas from Türkiye to northern Cyprus. The surveys necessary for this project are to be conducted by the research vessel Oruc Reis, accompanied by supporting vessels.
This development comes against the backdrop of enduring maritime boundary disputes and energy project disagreements between Greece and Türkiye in the eastern Mediterranean. Greece is also advancing its own energy initiative with an undersea electricity cable project linking its power grid to Cyprus, a venture Ankara has previously opposed.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 into the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Cypriot-administered north. The ongoing division contributes to the complexity of regional energy and territorial negotiations involving Greece and Türkiye.