Turkey: Ankara's Tough Talk Against Israel Also Aimed at Cyprus?

With its relations in Israel in freefall, following the release of a United Nations report about last year's Gaza flotilla, Turkey has increasingly been turning up the heat on its former ally. In particular, Ankara has promised that it will be increasing its naval patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean to show Israel its displeasure with the ongoing naval blockade of Gaza. But could these beefed up patrols (if they materialize) actually be aimed at flexing some muscle towards Cyprus? From Reuters:

Some Turkish and Israeli commentators have suggested Turkey might use the feud with Israel to build up naval patrols in seas between the Jewish state and the divided island of Cyprus.

Turkey has bitterly complained about recent Cypriot-Israeli energy deals. The presence of Turkish ships would have a menacing effect and could be seen as a provocation by neighboring Greece, also a NATO member.

Noble Energy, a U.S. firm, is due to start exploratory drilling for natural gas off Cyprus in October despite warnings from Turkey against such concessions.

Turkey and Cyprus have been at odds for decades over the ethnically split island, whose internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government is an EU member. Turkish Cypriots live in a breakaway state in northern Cyprus recognized only by Turkey.

Asked about exploratory drilling for natural gas by Greek Cypriots, Egemen Bagis, Turkey's European Union minister, told Turkish media last week: "It is for this (reason) that countries have warships. It is for this (reason) that we have equipment and we train our navies."

Greek Defense Minister Panos Beglitis, on an official visit to Israel on Tuesday, said: "We are at a time when calm must prevail on all sides in the region. This is not a time for conflicts and clashes."

Meanwhile, Turkey's energy minister has also joined the fray, warning Cyprus about its gas exploration plans. From Hurriyet:

Turkey’s energy minister on Tuesday said no one should attempt to test either the Turkish government or the country’s past, in reference to Greek Cyprus’ intentions to explore for natural resrouces under the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

“That would be a risky move,” Minister Taner Yıldız said during an interview on private channel CNNTürk while commenting on the Greek Cyrpiot decision regarding the East Mediterranean.

Yıldız’s comments were in response to pervious remarks by the Greek Cypriot foreign minister, who said, “Turkey would not dare to do anything.”

Minister Yıldız said no oil exploration could be conducted in the area, because the region’s borders remained undetermined and that Greek Cyprus’ idea to explore for oil and gas was akin to Turkey sending the Turkish Petroleum Corporation, or TPAO, to explore for oil in Thessalonica without striking any agreements.

“I say this noting that we, too, could have rights in a Mediterranean whose exclusive economic zones and borders are as yet undetermined. They cannot conduct explorations just by signing deals with firms,” he said.