Why in news ?
Turkey sending an exploration vessel accompanied by a Navy fleet to the disputed waters and France dispatching warships to assist Greece.
What is the dispute ?
European Union recently decided to built pipeline transportation in corporation with West Africa and West Asia from Mediterranean to Mainland of Europe.
But they kept Turkey out of the plan. This provoked Turkey. In fact the region has a historically troubled relations after the discovery of gas in the Mediterranean waters.
Historically Turkey and EU have claim over the region.
How the EU benefits from gas pipeline ?
Currently they are getting the resource from Russia. By transporting it form Mediterranean to mainland will reduce the dependency on Russia.
Besides it help EU to increase the geopolitical situation by creating East Med Gas Forum excluding Turkey.
East Med Gas Forum?
- Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestinian Authority signed in Cairo on 16 January 2019 the East Med Gas Forum (EMGF)
- It created a platform for East Mediterranean natural gas cooperation.
- Cairo will be the headquarters of the forum.
Turkey Reaction
- Challenged the pipeline project and reached an agreement with Libya. They form an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from its southern shores to Libya’s northern coast across the Mediterranean.
- Greece announced its EEZ with Egypt, which clashes with Turkey’s zone.
Regional Issues
- Eastern Mediterranean, which is dotted with Turkish and Greek islands.
- Turkey’s survey ship plans exploration activities around Greece’s Crete Island, which lies just outside the Turkish-Libya economic zone. Greece and Cyprus call it a violation of their sovereignty.
- The plan for transporting openly challenge Turkey a vital power in the region.
What can be done – Way Forward
- The tension to be solved through diplomatic channel.
- Any project excluding Turkey will affect the regional peace. The solution can be a mutually understating between two parties with the involving EU and other powers in the region.
NB : this is an evergreen topic for aspirant. It always have some kind of development. Follow the news for updates.
Source : PIB
Topic
Prelims : Countries bordering the region, East Med Gas Forum.
GS III : International Relation