Tensions looming in East Med

Amid a freeze in confidence-building measures ordered by the Hellenic Armed Forces General Staff (GEETHA) over the detention of two Greek soldiers and reports of Turkish vessels harassing Greek fishermen in the eastern Aegean, Athens is now bracing for Ankara's plans in coming days to drill for gas deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean and, possibly, within Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

According to sources, the Fatih drilling vessel, which is currently docked in the southern city of Antalya, will most likely head east in the coming days between the Karpas peninsula in northern Cyprus and the Gulf of Iskenderun, in a region where Turkey's Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa seismic vessel is already conducting surveys.

The region which is under illegal Turkish occupation has been under the complete control of Ankara since its 1974 invasion of the island.

However,...