Turkey says talks with France over the Great Sea Interconnector are still ongoing and have not been completed, as a Fren...

Turkey says talks with France over the Great Sea Interconnector are still ongoing and have not been completed, as a French-flagged vessel has already begun survey work in the Eastern Mediterranean for the planned Greece-Cyprus electricity cable. The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated Friday that the Abeille Marengo, an offshore support vessel, plans to conduct what Ankara calls "unlawful marine scientific research" within what it claims is its continental shelf. Turkey says the authorization process required under international law has not been finished, and issued a counter-NAVTEX to cancel the navigational warnings Greece and Cyprus put out for the survey work. Greece pushed back firmly. Athens completed all licensing procedures for the survey on November 6, 2026, with Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis personally issuing the permit decision after an inter-ministerial committee gave its approval. Greek diplomatic sources made clear that the Abeille Marengo will proceed on its operational schedule through Greek and Cypriot waters, stating that international maritime law "leaves no room for different interpretations." The GSI project, which will link Crete to Cyprus electrically and later extend to Israel, has a troubled history in this stretch of water. A previous Italian survey vessel halted its work near Kasos in July 2024 after Turkish pressure, making Greece's move to restart surveys now a significant step forward. French diplomats have been in active contact with both Athens and Ankara, working to reach a working arrangement that lets the project proceed without disruption. The French investment firm Meridiam, which holds a majority stake in GSI, is also pushing hard for a resolution, with the project's commercial timeline as its main concern. Athens has drawn a firm line on one point: no permit request will be submitted to Turkey. Greece has signaled it may allow Turkey to be informed of the vessel's movements as a gesture of goodwill, but insists there is no legal obligation to do so. The survey aboard the Abeille Marengo runs through the Greek continental shelf until November 19 before moving to Cypriot waters, with the NAVTEX valid through Mar...