Report: Two EU member states want Turkey to be named as a threat in Eastern Mediterranean

Turkey's Oruç Reis seismic research vessel. (Photo: AA/File)

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Foreign and defense ministers of European Union (EU) member countries on Monday (November 15) discussed a draft document about the bloc's military strategy.

While the document titled "Strategic Compass" was generally welcomed, two member states wanted Turkey to be included in the document as a threat in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to a report by Euractiv.

"We're happy because the document is realistic but at the same time ambitious," Euractiv quoted Slovenia's Defense Minister Matej Tonin as saying ahead of the meeting. "We need some fine-tuning; one is about Russia, another thing is about the Mediterranean."

The issue about the Mediterranean was that two member states asked for Turkey to be explicitly named as a threat in the threat analysis section of the upcoming document, the website reported, citing EU diplomats.

Turkey's hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean caused a diplomatic crisis last year, with the EU accusing it of violating territorial waters of Greece and Cyprus.

Ankara has reduced its activities since December 2020, when the EU decided to impose additional sanctions on individuals and companies from Turkey.

Last week, the EU decided to extend the sanctions for a year. The bloc has refrained from taking more serious steps such as imposing an arms embargo on Ankara. (PT/VK)