Turkey vows to give Greece ‘answer it deserves on the ground’ in energy dispute

Turkey’s president on Wednesday vowed to give Greece the “answer it deserves on the ground” over their energy dispute in the contested waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

“We will continue to give Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration -- who fail to keep their promises at the EU and NATO platforms -- the answer they deserve on the ground,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech to parliament.

The US and Germany, both allies of Turkey, have labeled the gas exploration mission a “provocation” and urged Ankara to recall the ship.

Turkey's research vessel, Oruc Reis anchored off the coast of Antalya on the Mediterranean, Turkey, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP)

But Turkey has defied international calls and sent its research vessel Oruc Reis back to the region.

Erdogan said the drillship Yavuz would also return to the eastern Mediterranean after maintenance at the port.

He warned that plans that disregard the interests of Turkey and the breakaway northern Cyprus would not succeed.

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