Tension between Greek and Turkish warships south of Kasos

The largest naval standoff between Greek and Turkish forces since 2020 and the hijacking of the Oruk Reis is currently taking place south of the Greek island of Kasos.

The gathering of Turkish warships (two G-class frigates, a corvette and two missile boats) was prompted by Turkey's attempt to prevent an Italian vessel from laying a cable for the Greek-Cypriot electricity connection.

Türkiye has released NAVTEX, according to which the cable laying operation is taking place in an area under Turkish sovereignty(!) and will escalate in a matter of hours. Greece sent S-class frigate Nikiforos Fokas and gunboat AtittisA Coast security – Marine Patrol Boat.

The forces deployed by the Navy are disproportionate and worrying. In particular, they were sent from Turkey Turkish Gabya-class frigates Gökova and Göksu, Burak-class corvette Beykoz. While yesterday, four FIR Athens violations were committed in the southeastern Aegean Sea by two helicopters and one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and two more Turkish missile boats were deployed in the area in the afternoon.

The Greek Navy, as already mentioned, deployed a frigate “Nikiforos Fokas” and the gunboat “Aetitos”, and the coast guard reinforced the Greek navy with a marine patrol boat, which monitors the operations of the Italian vessel “IEVOLI RELUME” located outside Greek territorial watersIt is noted that the Greek NAVTEX is valid until tomorrow.

ZCZC QA38 221910 UTC IOYL 24 STATHMOS IRAKLEIO AR.MIN 718/24
ZCZC QA38
221910 UTC IOYL 24
STATHMOS IRAKLEIO AR.MIN 718/24
KARPATHIO PELAGOS
EREVNITIKES ERGASIES GIA EGKATASTASI
YPOVRYCHIOY KALODIOY
APO TO PLOIO 'IEVOLI RELUME'
APO 23 MECHRI 24 IOYL 24
STI GRAMMI POY ENONEI TA SIMEIA:
35-18.17B 026-58.57A
35-18.12B 026-59.16A
35-19.90B 027-11.84A
35-19.80B 027-13.94A
TIREITAI APOSTASI ASFALEIAS 1NM
AKYROSI MINYMATOS TIN 242100 UTC IOYL 24
NNNN.

Turkey is trying to block the Italian vessel's work in the context of the implementation of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, according to which it and Libya seize significant areas of the Greek continental shelf and cut off the connection between the potential EEZ of Greece and Cyprus.

It should be noted that this vessel is conducting its research in the territorial waters of Greece, with the exception of a point that is approximately half a mile from them, that is, in international waters, in an area belonging to the Greek EEZ based on the Greek-Egyptian agreementSince the Italian ship will not be laying cables today, but will be “scanning” the seabed, that is, carrying out preparatory work, and then leaving, Athens believes that this will be the end of the incident.

As a result, the Greek continental shelf and EEZ are being challenged.

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