EU moves will not stop Turkey prospecting off Cyprus

Significance

Mitsotakis has chosen Cyprus for his first trip abroad two weeks after the EU announced sanctions against Turkey over prospecting operations in disputed parts of the seabed off Cyprus, divided between Greeks and Turks since 1974. They include suspension of high-level diplomatic contact, some funding cuts and a halt to talks on regional flight regulation.

Impacts

• The risk of a Turkish-Greek naval confrontation is growing.
• The new Greek government will take a harsher line than its predecessor.
• Israel and Greece will press for a trans-Mediterranean gas pipeline with US support.