Turkey has formally objected to Greece’s authorization of offshore energy exploration south of Crete, labeling the move a “unilateral provocation” that violates international law and existing regional agreements.
The escalation follows Athens’ signing of lease agreements with a consortium led by U.S. energy giant Chevron earlier this week. This move marks a significant expansion of Greece’s energy footprint and signals deeper American strategic involvement in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Chevron and Helleniq Energy will explore for gas in our offshore blocks located south of Crete and the Peloponnese. The four exploration areas span a total of 47,000 square kilometers (about 18,146 sq mi), with seismic surveys scheduled to begin prior to year-end. If these surveys identify viable targets, an exploratory drilling campaign will follow to confirm the scale of any deposits.
The Turkish Defense Ministry maintains that these activities infringe upon the 2019 Turkey-Libya Maritime Memorandum, claiming the exploration blocks overlap with Libya’s declared continental shelf. Ankara reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Libyan authorities in opposing what it termed “unlawful” Greek maneuvers.
Greece rejects Turkey’s criticism
In response, Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis dismissed the criticism, asserting that Greece is exercising its sovereign rights in strict adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In a radio interview on Thursday, Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou addressed Turkey’s reaction. He referred to conclusions adopted at the European Council in June, noting that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ensured the final text included a clear reference stating that the Turkey-Libya memorandum on maritime zones violates the sovereign rights of third states, is inconsistent with the law of the sea and cannot produce legal consequences for third countries.
Papastavrou said the EU’s clear position on what he described as the “illegal and unfounded” Turkey-Libya memorandum carries particular weight.
“With this European stance in place, Chevron is effectively showing that it does not give credence to these unlawful Turkish claims,” he said. “We are exercising our sovereign rights with confidence, in full accordance with international law and the law of the sea.”