His fast transition research vessel “Sanco Swift” southwest Crete in areas on the borders of the new NAVTEX with the number 916/22, issued on Saturday morning by the Naval Hydrographic Station (PN) in Heraklion, indicates the exceptional importance of research in the area.

The active work of Sanko Swift is also evidenced by the fact that yesterday its 12 km long cables were also laid. The rapid development of research also highlights the very intensive training that preceded the level ExxonMobil/HELLENiQ ENERGY Joint Venture, since the identification and analysis of objects that may contain hydrocarbon deposits showed that a significant part of them are located in the area outlined on Saturday morning. Both Saturday’s NAVTEX and the previous November 7th have no time limit (their expiration date is defined as being active “until further notice”) as it is not clear how investigations develop in the coming months.

On the contrary, it is becoming clear that departmental expansion of investigations to the detriment should not be ruled out in the coming months. As a reminder, already 10%-15% of the first area, announced on November 7, was demarcated with the help of NAVTEX issued by Malta.

In general, it seems that Malta, as an island state (which, of course, is a separate issue for International maritime law from a country that has a continental coast and islands such as Hellas), seeks agreements on the possibility of demarcation Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with neighboring countries and the possibility of its expansion to the east to the place where it meets the Greek, can greatly increase its influence.

The fact that the Greek authorities proceeded to authorize the studies, taking as a model the last proposal of Libya (it was made in 2010, and in 2011 the discussion was interrupted due to the civil war and the collapse of the state), indicates a readiness for dialogue with third parties who are willing to negotiate in accordance with international law.

On the negative side, the big news is that the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the American George W. Bush and the Italian Cavour have all recently been spotted in a wider area.

Athens certainly has no illusions about how their movements in southwest Crete are perceived. Anchor. A reaction is expected, but partners, allies and interlocutors have long understood that in this particular region, Greece is simply exercising potential rights in order to intensify dialogue with Libya.

In addition, clear messages were sent. Between November 23 and 25 (i.e., shortly before the new NAVTEX was released), the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (which had previously been in the Adriatic), the American George W. Bush, and the Italian aircraft carriers Cavour were in wider area southwest of Crete. , where they trained with the Air Force fighters.

Although the air armada of three aircraft carriers has been active (with pauses) since the start of the war in Ukraine, the fact that the graph accompanying the corresponding post of the French Ministry of Defense showed a spot in the southwest did not extend attention to Crete at all, and Turkey completely was missing from the map.