Turkey’s relevant energy minister was the latest top official in the neighboring country to engage in saber-rattling, promising that “our navy will do what is necessary” if a Turkish drill ship is “harassed”.
Turkish Minister Fatih Donmez was quoted by the semi-official Anadolu agency as adding that “there is no danger at the moment, but we’ll do what is necessary if harassed.”
Ankara has threatened to send a new drill ship, the “Fatih” (Turkish for “conqueror), into Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone to emphasize its standing opposition to the island republic’s exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons. Turkey neither recognizes the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, nor has it signed – let alone ratified – the UN international law of the sea. Moreover, one-third of the east Mediterranean island remains occupied by the Turkish military.
Fatih, the minister, also said the vessel is due to conduct two drillings per year, with the next one being on Wednesday in a sea region, “Alanya 1”, some 62 miles south of the southern Turkish city of Antalya.
