Ankara’s regional plan prompts Athens diplomacy

With regional tensions simmering, Athens and Nicosia see Ankara's moves in the Eastern Mediterranean over the last six months as part of an organized plan developed by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO).

The plan, which was drafted in cooperation with the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense and presented by TPAO to the Turkish government, foresees an intensification of the Turkish navy's presence throughout the Eastern Mediterranean basin. It also stipulates continuous exploratory and drilling activities within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Cyprus, while also calling for pressure to be brought to bear on Qatar to withdraw state-owned Qatar Petroleum from the consortium with US company ExxonMobil, which is active in block 10 of Cyprus' EEZ.

In response to Turkey's moves, which include the strengthening of ties with the Tripoli-based government in...