Turkey wants advance notice of the maritime surveys needed for the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnector, reigniting Greek-Turkish tensions, according to unnamed reports in the Greek press. Ankara is citing sovereign rights and jurisdiction in parts of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Athens rejects the idea that Turkish permission is required to carry out the surveys. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Greece will act in line with international law and the Law of the Sea, and confirmed the project will go ahead as planned.
Marinakis said the rules governing the surveys and the laying of the cable are clear and that Greece will not deviate from them. He repeated that there is shared political will to complete the interconnection, pointing to the project’s European character and the involvement of France through investment firm Meridiam.
According to newspaper Kathimerini, the Turkish side is closely following developments around the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) and Greek government statements that work will continue. Turkish sources cited by the paper said that when activities are planned in maritime areas Turkey considers itself to hold sovereign rights over, the flag state of vessels involved in the surveys should first communicate with Ankara.
Turkey’s request is part of its broader claims in the Eastern Mediterranean and reflects the differing approaches Athens and Ankara take on maritime boundary delimitation. Greece and the Republic of Cyprus invoke the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, while Turkey, which is not a party to the convention, disputes that islands are entitled to full maritime zones.
The issue has taken on added significance ahead of the resumption of surveys needed to lay the cable. The area was also at the centre of tension in the summer of 2024, when Turkey reacted to bathymetric surveys by the Italian research vessel Ievoli Relume off Kasos by deploying warships.
Greece’s message is that no third country’s permission is required for a peaceful infrastructure project. Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Hatzivasileiou said planning is continuing as normal and described Meridiam’s participation as a vote of confidence in the project.
Meridiam’s entry as a key investor has given fresh momentum to the GSI, which aims to connect the electricity systems of Cyprus and Greece and, at a later stage, Israel. The Greek government says it will take the necessary steps, in coordination with the Republic of Cyprus, to ensure the interconnection goes ahead without obstruction.
