Cyprus is an Island in the Mediterranean Sea with great
strategic importance. It is also one of biggest
bones of contention between Turkey and Greece. To its north lies Turkey, to the east Syria
and Jordan. In the south East is the
state of Israel. Far to the south is
Egypt, while in the west is the Greek island of Crete.
The Turkish exploration of gas in Cyprus surrounding
waters has opened a new dispute between the US and its allies on the one hand and
Turkey on the other. In 2012 estimated
deposits of 127 billion cubic metres of gas were discovered in Cyprus. Israel also
has also discovered large gas deposits on its side. The US has long been wary of Russia’s monopoly
of gas supplies to western European countries. On 20 March 2019, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel
signed an intergovernmental agreement for the EastMed gas pipeline, in the
presence of United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In response, Turkey
also started drilling for gas, claiming
it as a right. The US sees this drilling
as a threat to the Med East pipeline project
The deterioration of relations between the US and Turkey over
its purchase of the S-400 Missile defense system, motivates the Americans to
make a strong stand against Turkey. The United States believes Turkey is
slipping out of its orbit. This is the
reason the US opposes Turkey’s right to exploit the area, and begun helping
Greece, Turkey’s deadliest regional rival. The US Ambassador to Cyprus, Judith Garber,
has expressed her concerns over Turkey’s continued offshore drilling near the island. She has urged Turkey to stop exploring the
area’s energy reserves.
In his turn, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said
“Turkish Cypriots in Northern Cyprus have rights in the eastern Mediterranean
and we cannot allow anyone to confiscate these rights”