Another attempt by Turkey to challenge Greece’s jurisdiction in the sensitive region of the Eastern Mediterranean has emerged, on the occasion of a French Navy exercise.

The Heraklion Station issued a NAVTEX (254/26) for the conduct of a large-scale French Navy exercise from April 5–8, in two maritime areas: west and east of Crete. The area east of Crete lies within the Athens FIR and within Greece’s area of responsibility for issuing NAVTEX, which Turkey disputes.

Ankara, yesterday afternoon, issued its own NAVTEX (0370/26), stating that the NAVTEX issued by the Heraklion Station covers an area that belongs to the Turkish zone of responsibility for issuing navigational warnings. It then proceeded unilaterally to reissue a NAVTEX for the French Navy exercise.

This move also reflects Ankara’s irritation over the increased French presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and its initiative to support Greece in ensuring Cyprus’s security.