Surveillance footage released by the Turkish military on Thursday appeared to refute media reports that Greek submarines operating in the Eastern Mediterranean were “invisible” to Turkey’s armed forces, Anadolu Agency reports.
According to the images obtained from security sources, the Greek naval elements are constantly being monitored by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) in the region.
The sources said the TAF is monitoring Type 214 submarines both from the air and from the sea, as tensions escalate following the discovery of rich hydrocarbon reserves in the region and the Greek government’s maritime claims.
They further added that the false reports from Greece that Turkey had not become aware of the presence of the Greek ships were simply for propaganda purposes to consolidate public opinion in their country.
In August, Turkey resumed energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean after Greece and Egypt signed a controversial maritime delimitation agreement, prompting Turkey’s goodwill gesture to halt its search.
By declaring the Greek-Egyptian agreement “void”, Turkey authorized the seismic research vessel Oruc Reis to continue activities in an area of Turkey’s continental shelf.
Turkey has consistently opposed Greece’s efforts to declare an exclusive economic zone based on small islands off the Turkish coast, which violates the interests of Turkey, the country with the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Ankara has also said that energy resources near the island of Cyprus should be shared equitably between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus.
