Government of Turkey

Turkey has urged Greece to avoid provocative actions against its research vessel Oruç Reis deployed in the eastern Mediterranean or it will be retaliated in kind, a statement in reference to an incident between the two countries involving a frigate, which was later described as "an accident" by the Greek authorities.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Greece had attacked its seismic survey vessel Oruc Reis and warned that if it does so again in the future, Turkey will retaliate.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday France should refrain from steps that escalate tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, where Ankara is embroiled in a dispute with Greece over Turkish oil and gas exploration in disputed waters.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has lengthily responded to criticisms posed by Muharrem İnce, a disgruntled party member and former presidential candidate who has recently announced his "Motherland Movement in 1,000 days."

Two US Senators and two members of Congress have urged US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to pressure Turkey into calling off its drilling plans in the eastern Mediterranean.

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that any attack on a Turkish ship exploring for oil and gas in disputed Mediterranean waters would incur a "high price" and suggested Turkey had already acted on that warning.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that any attack on a Turkish ship exploring for oil and gas in the Eastern Mediterranean waters would incur a "high price" and suggested Turkey had already acted on that warning.

European Council President Charles Michel on Thursday held a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to the former's spokesman Barend Leyts.

Turkey has both a government and an opposition problem and needs to exit this current political stalemate, Muharrem İnce, a former main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) presidential candidate and a party dissident, has said, announcing the launch of his "Motherland Movement in 1,000 days" as an alternative to existing political parties.

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) which is an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party, has accused Greece of displaying an "hostile behavior" amid tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
"To all those who cause provocations at sea, drawing awaits them," Bahceli warned.