AlwaysFree: Turkey Expects No EU Sanctions Over Disputed Drilling Rights

Turkey’s communications director Fahrettin Altun in an interview with CNN Türk on Saturday said that the country expected no sanctions from the European Union over Turkey’s energy exploration in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean sea. Altun noted that sanctioning Turkey over such a matter would be irrational. The EU was scheduled to hold a meeting on October 1-2 to discuss possible sanctions on Turkey. However, it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Greece and Cyprus have sought EU support in disputing Turkey’s energy exploration in the area. Meanwhile, Turkey claims that energy exploration is on its continental shelf, where the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) also has exploration rights.