Tensions mount as warships deployed at holiday hotspots in Greece and Turkey confrontation

Tensions have been rising at two holiday hotspots as warships were sent to the area in a territorial dispute. The issue has blown up between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea in the last 24 hours.

Turkey deployed warships just inside its territorial waters between the islands of Kasos and Karpathos. The Turkish warships are monitoring the Italian research vessel “Ievoli Relume,” which is conducting surveys for the future installation of underwater cables for the Crete-Cyprus electrical interconnection project.

Claiming “continental shelf violation”, Turkey issued a Navtex claiming a “Turkish continental shelf” area south of Karpathos. Turkey does not recognize that Greek islands have a continental shelf and claims its continental shelf extends from its west coast to large parts of the Aegean Sea.

Ankara had previously lodged diplomatic objections to the presence of Italian cable-layer Teliri as it was laying optical fiber cables. Initially Turkey sent two frigates and a corvette, while only one Greek ship, a gunboat, was present. The arrival of two Turkish missile cutters prompted the appearance of a Greek frigate in the area.

Turkey deployed a of total five warships in the past 24 hours, just outside Greek territorial waters between the islands of Kasos and Karpathos, in the southeastern Aegean, claiming that the Turkish continental shelf had been violated.

Speaking to media, diplomatic sources in Athens said the deployment of Turkish warships in the area, following the sailing of the research ship in international waters, resulted in the deployment of Greek warships as well.

One was reported as saying: “The Italian ship Ievoli Relume is conducting research for the deployment of underwater cables near Kasos. The deployment of Turkish navy ships in the area, following the sailing of the research ship in international waters, resulted in the deployment of Greek warships as well. Necessary communications are taking place in anticipation of the completion of the research according to the existing schedule."

The same sources added that “due consultations are taking place with a view to completing the investigation based on the existing programming.”

ANT1 TV reported today that all leave permissions in the Greek Navy have been revoked.