2018 Cyprus gas dispute

The 2018 Cyprus gas dispute is a diplomatic dispute involving the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus (in partnership with Greece and Egypt) in the eastern Mediterranean, which began on February 6, 2018. The dispute followed remarks made by Turkey's foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, rejecting a 2003 Cypriot-Egyptian maritime border demarcation deal and announcing the Turkish government's intention to carry out gas exploration in the region. Tensions in the region further escalated on February 9, when the Turkish Navy blocked a drill ship operated by Italian oil company Eni S.p.A., licensed by the government of the Republic of Cyprus, from exploring gas reserves off the island.^[1]

Çavuşoğlu said during his interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini that Turkish Cypriots have "undeniable rights" to the Cypriot EEZ. Egypt's Foreign Ministry reacted by warning Turkey not to contest the 2013 deal and Egyptian economic interests in the region, adding that any attempts to do so would be confronted. The Cypriot government officials have emphasised that any future benefits are for all Cypriots, including the Turkish Cypriots, but only after a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. On February 16, Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi stated that the Turkish blockade of its drill ship, Saipem 12000, was out of Eni's hands and that the issue was being discussed by involved parties. In November 2018, the partnership of the Cypriot government and US company ExxonMobil successfully began carrying out hydrocarbon exploration, escorted by US Navy ships, with Turkey remaining passive.^[2]^[3]^[4]

^ Michele Kambas; Gavin Jones; Stephen Jewkes; Orhan Coskun. "Turkish blockade of ship off Cyprus is out of Eni's control: CEO". Reuters.
^ Antonis Antoniou. "ExxonMobil Could Be In For A Naval Battle". Forbes.
^ TNH Staff (March 4, 2019). "ExxonMobil Gas Find Makes Cyprus Geopolitical Battleground". The National Herald, Inc. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
^ Ahval Staff. "U.S. boosts naval presence as Exxon explores off Cyprus". The National Herald, Inc. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2019-07-17.

[1] Michele Kambas; Gavin Jones; Stephen Jewkes; Orhan Coskun. "Turkish blockade of ship off Cyprus is out of Eni's control: CEO". Reuters.

[2] Antonis Antoniou. "ExxonMobil Could Be In For A Naval Battle". Forbes.

[3] TNH Staff (March 4, 2019). "ExxonMobil Gas Find Makes Cyprus Geopolitical Battleground". The National Herald, Inc. Retrieved 20 June 2019.

[4] Ahval Staff. "U.S. boosts naval presence as Exxon explores off Cyprus". The National Herald, Inc. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2019-07-17.

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