The Turkish Ministry of National Defence has denied reports that a new NAVTEX has been issued for hydrocarbon drilling in Block 5, a section of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) declared by the Greek Cypriot Administration.
The Ministry on Thursday clarified that no such NAVTEX has been published and reaffirmed Türkiye’s stance on safeguarding its maritime rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Responding to questions about the VALARIS DS-9 drilling vessel’s activities, ministry officials stated that the ship is currently operating in Block 10-an area that does not overlap with Türkiye’s maritime jurisdiction.
“There is no current NAVTEX for Block 5,” officials said, underlining that part of the area lies within Türkiye’s continental shelf as declared to the United Nations on March 18, 2020.
The Ministry emphasised that any violation of Türkiye’s continental shelf would be immediately prevented in the field.
“There is no overlap between Block 10 and our maritime jurisdiction,” the statement reiterated, indirectly warning the Greek Cypriot Administration against provocative actions that could heighten tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
( Source : BRT News)
