Greece says it will fully exercise eastern Mediterranean sovereign rights

Athens, Greece. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said on Monday that Greece would “fully exercise its sovereign rights” in the eastern Mediterranean, as plans for an electricity cable to Cyprus could bring its maritime dispute with Turkey to the fore.

He said Greece could deploy frigates and upgraded F-16 fighter jets if necessary should Turkey send naval vessels to escort research ships from its claimed exclusive economic zone.

Potential naval deployment

Asked by Greek television channel Open whether the government would order frigates to the area in such a scenario, Gerapetritis said that “today, more than ever”, Greece would defend its “sovereign rights”.

Pressed on whether frigates would be deployed, he replied: “How much simpler can I say it?”

“Greece has proven that it can send frigates and it can send F-16 [fighter jets], and from next year, F-35s. It proved it in Cyprus, it proved it in the Middle East crisis, it proves it every day,” he said.

“If necessary, of course there will be a frigate and there will be the upgraded F-16s,” he added, saying that “Greek society should not worry”.

Seabed survey plans

In the coming weeks or months, Greece is expected to issue a navtex warning vessels of planned seabed surveys for cables between Cyprus and Crete under the Great Sea Interconnector project.

Greece’s independent transmission system operator Admie, which owned the project until French asset management firm Meridiam bought it earlier this month, said about 60 per cent of the seabed surveys have been completed.

The remaining 40 per cent is in disputed waters claimed by both Greece and Turkey.

Previous dispute

Conflicting maritime claims have previously impeded seabed surveys between Cyprus and Greece.

In 2024, Turkish naval vessels were deployed after the Italian research vessel Ievoli Reulme entered waters Turkey considers its own. The vessels escorted the ship away, while Greece dispatched naval vessels, including the frigates Nikiforos Fokas and Aittitos, to the area.