Turkey sends warships to Cyprus amid row over oil deals

ANKARA (AFP) – Turkey has sent warships to international waters off Cyprus amid a growing row over oil and gas exploration deals the island’s internationally recognised government signed with Egypt and Lebanon, the NTV news channel reported.

Turkish officials were not immediately available for comment.


NTV did not say how many ships had been sent to the Eastern Mediterranean, but added that they would stay there for a while.

The move follows a harsh warning by Ankara for Egypt and Lebanon to delay the deals which it said infringed the rights of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot statelet on the divided island.

AFP