The assessment that the Turkish drilling rig “Abdulhamit Khan” will move in the area of the Cypriot EEZ was expressed by the former national security adviser, Alexis Diakopoulos. However, he did not rule out the possibility of a repeat of the events of the summer of 2020.
“There are various scenarios, and perhaps the worst for us is that the Turks come to the area in the middle line which is our continental shelf and EEZ, where Oruch Reis did the surveys two years ago, and do the drilling there . In the event that this happens and having anticipated our own reaction, their drilling rig will come accompanied by too many warships. This will lead Greece to mobilize a large part of the fleet and we will almost have a repeat of 2020,” he said characteristically ( t/s SKAI).
But he estimated that “it will probably move to an area of the Cypriot EEZ, either in Pseudokratos which has declared an illegal EEZ or in the area demarcated by the Republic of Cyprus. However, it is not excluded that it will come further west towards our side, it is not excluded that it will come marginally where the EEZs meet”.
According to Mr. Diakopoulos, when Turkey issues Navtex, Greece will react accordingly, with legal and diplomatic means.
Asked if German Foreign Minister Analena Berbock’s condemnation of Turkey’s statements will affect Erdogan’s decisions regarding the area where the drill will be taken, he pointed out that any statement or action by third parties, which is in favor of Greek positions, causes crazy reactions in Turkey.” Revisionism in the Western world does not go easily and this can be seen from the attitude of Germany, which, from where it used to keep an average distance, the Foreign Minister took a clear position.
In addition, Israel came to conduct exercises in the area claimed by the Turkish-Libyan memorandum. We see that the international environment is not evolving in favor of Turkish interests. Turkey is trying to implement a coercive strategy towards Greece and Cyprus, and the drilling is less a means to extract oil and more a means of coercion,” the former National Security Adviser explained.
In addition, he predicted that until elections are held in Turkey, Ankara’s statements will become increasingly aggressive and demanding. “I estimate that we will be in a situation of controlled tension until elections are held. The more vulnerable Erdogan feels, the more aggressively he reacts.”
Source: Capital
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