Greek press leaked radio conversations: Türkiye-France tension in the Eastern Mediterranean!

The continental shelf dispute between Türkiye and Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean has come to the fore again. The French ship Abeille Marengo, which was carrying out research activities within the scope of the electrical connection planned to be established between Cyprus and Greece, was the subject of a radio conversation between Turkish and Greek warships.

According to the news of the Greek Cypriot public broadcaster RIK dated November 12, a Turkish frigate in close proximity to the French research ship sailing in international waters stated over the radio that the ship was on the Turkish continental shelf.

The Turkish frigate informed the French ship that the region in which it was operating was within the borders of Türkiye's continental shelf and that it could continue its navigation with Türkiye's approval.

The Limnos (Limnis) frigate of the Greek Navy, which is in the region, responded to the Turkish side's statement and argued that the French research ship was on the Greek continental shelf.

"THE FRENCH SHIP DID NOT CARE"

According to the Greek broadcaster, the warning made by the Turkish frigate over the radio did not affect the course of the French ship.

Greek state television ERT also claimed that Abeille Marengo's research activities were continuing as planned.

The ship's mission in the region is to carry out marine research within the scope of the electrical connection project planned to be implemented between Cyprus and Greece.

MIÇOTAKIS AND MACRON DISCUSSED THE PROJECT

On the other hand, Greek Cypriot Administration leader Nikos Hristodulidis met separately with Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis and French President Emmanuel Macron within the scope of the European Political Community Summit held in Dublin.

During the meetings, the progress of the electricity connection project between Cyprus and Greece was discussed.

The project, known as the Great Sea Interconnector, envisages the establishment of an undersea electricity transmission line between Crete and Cyprus. The project continues to be one of the topics of diplomatic tension between Türkiye and Greece due to maritime jurisdiction disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Türkiye and Greece have different continental shelf claims regarding the legal status of some maritime areas in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean. In the latest incident, the parties made opposing statements about which country's continental shelf the area where the French research ship was located fell.

The news did not contain any information that the Turkish frigate actually intervened in the French ship or stopped its research activities.