Erdogan-Sarraj deals ratchet up tensions between Athens, Ankara over drilling | Samir Wahbi

Erdogan-Sarraj deals ratchet up tensions between Athens, Ankara over drilling | Samir Wahbi

PARIS - Tensions continue to rise between Athens and Ankara over Turkey's plan to expand oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean Sea, in a regional dispute directly linked to agreements signed last November between Ankara and Tripoli.. The new rise in tensions between Turkey and Greece has been fuelled by the announcement made last Friday by Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez, who said his country may begin oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean this summer under the deals signed with Libya.. The maritime demarcation deal between the Tripoli government and Ankara was signed along with an agreement for Turkey to provide military support to the GNA.. A growing number of EU member-states, including France and Italy, are expressing concern that mounting tensions between Turkey and Greece will impact the whole Mediterranean basin..