ENERGY: Turkey ups the ante in gas row with Cyprus

Turkey will not waiver in defying international opinion by continuing to illegally explore for hydrocarbons off Cyprus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed.

---

"No project ignoring Turkey, or the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus can be realized in the Eastern Mediterranean," Erdogan warned.

“We are continuing right now the exploration activities and will continue to do so with the same determination,” he added.

Ankara has sent two drilling ships, as well as two seismic exploration ships to the region, whose security is ensured by the Turkish naval and air forces elements, the Turkish leader said.

The Turkish-flagged drillship Fatih launched its offshore drilling operations in May inside Cyprus waters and a second drillship Yavuz is located on the other side of the island off Karpas peninsula.

Brussels imposed sanctions on Ankara last month for its illegal activity in Cyprus, the measures included cutting €145.8 mln in pre-accession financial funds to Turkey allocated for 2020.

The move came after Turkey defied warnings from the EU and the United States to stop its drilling activities off Cyprus.

Erdogan suggested Turkey would continue regardless which could see it operate around blocks where Nicosia has issued exploration licenses to international giants like ExxonMobil and France’s Total.