Gas Reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean: New Dimension in the Cyprus Crisis

Abstract

The paper aims to analyse the ongoing gas dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey sent drilling ships in Cyprus’s EEZ in the spring of 2019 which escalated to a diplomatic crisis. The tensions between the two countries have multiple causes, and the paper intends to examine them at local and regional level. Firstly, the Turkish intervention in 1974 led to the partition of the island and the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (recognised only by Ankara). Despite the efforts, this problem has not been solved yet leading to territorial disputes concerning the use and the extent of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the island. Secondly, the drilling activities since the mid-2000s were successful in the South by discovering several gas fields which pushed Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to pursue a more confrontative foreign policy in order to assure their rights. Thirdly, during the last 10–15 years, large reserves were found in the Egyptian and Israeli EEZ as well, opening the opportunity for these states to become gas exporters. Cyprus (and Greece) began to support the energy cooperation between these countries which (taking into consideration their problems with Ankara) limits Turkey’s room for manoeuvre in the region.