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BREAKING
Barrack: We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity building peace and prosperity with their neighbors
US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa supported by the US have agreed to a ceasefire embraced by Türkiye, Jordan, and their neighbors
YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: We carried out a top-tier operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Lydd with a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile
Israeli media: Israelis in the Gush Dan area and al-Quds were asked to enter shelters immediately
Sirens sound in Tel Aviv and occupied al-Quds after a missile was launched from Yemen
Sheikh Qassem: We are ready to defend ourselves if 'Israel' attacks us in a way that we believe calls for us to defend ourselves
Sheikh Qassem: "Israel" will never be handed over our weapons
Sheikh Qassem: He who refuses so and accepts humiliation, that is their own business, but for us, we will not accept humiliation. We have made great sacrifices, and our strength has helped us achieve this result
Sheikh Qassem: Be patient with the issue of exclusivity of arms with the state in the face of the great danger that will not spare Lebanon; let us speak with one voice and work for the sake of priority
Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon faces three real dangers: 'Israel', ISIS tools on the eastern border, and US tyranny

Turkey sends drill ship on Med mission

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Aug 2022 23:11
3 Min Read

For the first time in two years, Turkey sends a drill ship on a mission in the Eastern Mediterranean.

  • x
  • Turkey sends drill ship on Med mission .
    Turkey sends drill ship on Med mission.

Turkey launched its newest drill ship on its first eastern Mediterranean energy exploration mission in nearly two years on Tuesday.

The search for natural gas in the energy-rich waters surrounding Cyprus' divided island has become an irritant in Turkey's relations with the European Union.

The Abdulhamid Han drill ship, Turkey's fourth, will be sent to an undisputed area about 55 kilometers (34 miles) south of the city of Gazipasa, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

However, he dismissed Greek and Cypriot objections to such missions, claiming that Turkey has the right to search for energy in areas it claims as its own.

The Abdulhamid Han is "the symbol of Turkey's new vision in the area of energy," Erdogan said at the sending-off ceremony in the southern city of Mersin. "I am excited."  

Read next: Turkey to resume drilling for gas near Cyprus

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In 2020, tensions between Ankara and Brussels rose after Turkey sent a seismic research vessel and a drill ship into disputed waters claimed by Greece and Cyprus.

A Greek and a Turkish warship that was following one of the exploration missions collided in the Mediterranean that August.

The designated area for Abdulhamid Han is north of Cyprus and far from disputed sea areas. Erdogan, on the other hand, warned that Turkey reserves the right to explore for gas in disputed waters claimed by Ankara.

"Our ship will not stop, she will go to other wells and continue to search (for gas) until she finds it," Erdogan defiantly said. 

"The drilling work we do in the Mediterranean is within our own jurisdiction. We don't need anyone's permission." According to Turkish media, the ship will be exploring for gas until October 7.

Read next: Erdogan: Turkey will start paying for Russian gas in rubles

It is worth noting that Russia accounted for about a quarter of Turkey's oil imports and 45% of its natural gas purchases last year.

"The sooner we can increase our natural gas and oil resources, which have turned into weapons in the global economic crisis, the more advantage we will gain in this critical process," Erdogan said.  "It will help us both reduce our energy dependency and close our current account deficit."

  • Turkey
  • Russia
  • Cyprus
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • gas
  • Greece
  • European Union

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