The Tense Disputes Over Natural Resources in the Eastern Mediterranean

On August 12, 2020, a Turkish and Greek warship collided in the Mediterranean Sea—a potent reminder of the rising tensions in this region. This blog will explore the ongoing disputes over the rich natural gas and oil reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean and the complex geopolitical issues fueling these conflicts.

Maritime Borders and Exclusive Economic Zones 🌊

It is believed that there are vast reserves of natural gas and oil in the Eastern Mediterranean, mostly unexplored. This situation has sparked disputes over Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). These are areas in the sea where a nation has sole rights to explore and exploit resources like natural gas deposits. To understand these conflicts, let's first consider how maritime borders generally work. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea regulates maritime rights to avoid disputes:

• The coastal strip of 12 nautical miles is regarded as territorial sea, where the respective country exercises full sovereignty.
• The zone up to 200 nautical miles is the Exclusive Economic Zone. Here a nation doesn't have full sovereignty but has sole rights to exploit resources.

But what happens when such territorial claims overlap? Typically, nations come to an agreement, drawing a median line. Within 200 nautical miles, it’s simply noted that any location belongs to the nation to which it is closest.

The Eastern Mediterranean Disputes 🔥

Most countries have signed the UN Convention, including all European Union members. However, three countries in the Eastern Mediterranean—Syria, Israel, and Turkey—have not signed this agreement, leaving maritime borders unresolved. The current EEZ disputes reignite historical border conflicts between Turkey and Greece.

The Aegean Sea Conflict 🌐

One significant territorial dispute lies in the Aegean Sea. Greece has numerous islands close to the Turkish coast, limiting Turkey's exclusive access:

• Both countries currently implement their territorial claims as 6 nautical miles.
• Greece argues it is entitled to 12 nautical miles under the UN Convention, significantly benefiting Greece given the proximity of its islands to Turkey.

This complicated dispute also revolves around whether Greece has breached international agreements by militarizing these islands, which the Treaty of Lausanne (1923) had demilitarized. Greece sees this militarization as legitimate self-defense amidst territorial clashes.

The Cyprus Division 🏝️

Another key conflict affecting territorial claims is the status of Cyprus. The island is divided:

• The southern part is the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member since 2004.
• The northern part is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.

The two regions are divided by a United Nations buffer zone and two British military bases. As exploration missions discover substantial gas fields, the long-standing Cyprus conflict has gained new momentum.

Significant Gas Fields 🚢

In recent years, several significant gas fields have been discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean:

• The Zohr field in Egypt, which, if estimates are correct, will nearly double Egypt’s gas reserves.
• Off Israel's coast, the Tamar and Leviathan fields.
• South of Cyprus lies the Aphrodite field.

According to the EEZ defined by Greece and Cyprus, Turkey's exclusive rights are limited. However, Turkey sees this zone differently, claiming wider areas for exploration, including regions claimed by Northern Cyprus.

Conflicting Territorial Maps and International Agreements 🗺️

Essentially, there are two versions of the territorial map:

• Greece’s and Cyprus’s version, which limits Turkey’s exclusive rights.
• Turkey’s version, which claims broader areas.

Both countries are bolstering their claims through international agreements. For example:

• Turkey signed an agreement with the Libya-based Tripoli government, creating a corridor that undermines Greek claims.
• Greece signed an agreement with Egypt, confirming their respective claims.

Strategic Partnerships and Pipeline Projects 🚀

Greece is supporting a planned pipeline project to connect the Israeli and Cypriot gas fields, pumping gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe while bypassing Turkey. This project, strongly opposed by Turkey, would run through a corridor defined by the Turkey-Libya agreement.

Military Maneuvers ⚔️

Turkey is trying to enforce its territorial claims by searching for gas deposits in areas recognized by the UN Convention as part of Greece’s EEZ. The Turkish ship Oruc Reis, accompanied by military warships, has been at the center of standoffs, leading to incidents like the August 2020 collision between Greek and Turkish ships.

A Complex and Multi-Layered Dispute 🧩

The disputes in the Mediterranean are intricate, involving not just new explorations of gas fields but also longstanding conflicts between Turkey and Greece in areas like the Aegean Sea and Cyprus. Additionally, numerous relationships between different Mediterranean nations play crucial roles, as new strategic partnerships continue to emerge. For a better experience visit our official blog portal

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