Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Friday Turkey could face consequences from Europe if it persists on a course of action challenging Cyprus’s right to explore for gas, Reuters reported.
“There is an upsurge in Turkish aggression, something we don’t only observe in the relations of Turkey with Greece and Cyprus, but also important countries like the United States, and with Europe,” Tsipras told reporters at the end of an EU summit.
Turkey launched a second drilling ship on Thursday for natural gas operations off Cyprus, a move that risks aggravating a conflict with Cyprus over jurisdiction rights for oil and gas exploration.
At an EU summit in Brussels, leaders issued a statements saying Turkey’s drilling is “illegal” and that the bloc “stands ready to respond appropriately.”