Turkey to retaliate if Greece attacks vessel in East Med: Erdoğan
Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned Greece that Turkey will retaliate against any attack on its survey vessel Oruç Reis in the eastern Mediterranean. One of the warships accompanying Oruç Reis had given the necessary response to an attack by Greek ships on Thursday, Erdoğan added.
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 02:42 | 14 August 2020
- Modified Date: 02:44 | 14 August 2020
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned Greece on Friday that Turkey will retaliate against any attack on its survey vessel Oruç Reis in the eastern Mediterranean in an escalating row between the NATO allies over gas and oil exploration in the region.
Turkey and Greece are vehemently at odds over overlapping claims for hydrocarbon resources in the region.
On Thursday, Erdoğan warned of a "high price" if Oruç Reis was attacked and suggested Turkey had already acted on that warning.
Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul, Erdoğan said one of the warships accompanying Oruç Reis, the Kemal Reis, had "given the necessary response" to an attack by Greek ships on Thursday.
"If this continues, they will receive their answer in kind," he said.
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