ISTANBUL – ANSWER. OUR Anchor proclaimed new drilling in Eastern Mediterranean with the drilling rig “Abdul Hamid Khan”, which will set sail in the coming days. Turkish Petroleum Exploration Company (TRAO) CEO Melih Khan Bilgin said the rig will set sail “in the next few days.” His new mission is planned for the Mediterranean.” The head of TPAO said that “we are doing X-rays of the Blue Motherland.” “Abdul Hamit Khan” is in the port of Tassuzu in Mersini, and her repair work is ongoing. Political analysts estimate that Ankara will release the relevant NAVTEX in the coming days to determine the point of the investigation. The majority refrains from forecasts, but does not rule out that the driller will head to the areas Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Libya, which was preceded by seismic surveys in the past. However, they do not exclude that it will pass inside the Cypriot EEZ. However, in recent months, Turkey has avoided research in areas that could cause tension in the Eastern Mediterranean.

New agreement between Greece and Egypt on search and rescue zones, debate within Greece on expanding territorial waters to 12 miles in certain areas, visit Nikos Dendias in Libya and Cairo and the reaction of Athens to the Tripoli government have created new data that are being studied with particular attention. Ankara is concerned about the reaction of the State Department to the statements of the Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar for the possible immediate use of S-400. Washington stressed that the Russian air defense system “poses a threat to NATO” and called for its elimination, while warning of new sanctions in the event of the purchase of new Russian weapons systems. Hours after the outcry, Mr. Akar was visited by the US Ambassador to Ankara, Jeff Flake. Turkish media speculated that he conveyed the US government’s message to the Erdogan government.

According to a Turkish official, the Abdul Hamid Khan will set sail on a “mission to the Mediterranean,” without currently naming the exact area in which it will move.

Meanwhile, a representative of the ruling Justice and Development Party, Omer Celik, accused Greece of supporting terrorist organizations and threatened to veto the question of Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Mr Celik stated that “Greece, which left NATO and later returned with our approval, is today a country that hosts FETO and PKK terrorists, has their camps and supports them. When we think we’re happy with the legislative changes they make (including Finland and Sweden), we’ll gladly say yes. However, as long as this does not happen and they do not satisfy us, there is no way to give our consent.” Mr. Celik accused the US of collaborating with terrorist organizations in northern Syria.

The AKP spokesman also referred to Nikos Dendias’ recent visit to Libya as “stupid behavior” and expressed Ankara’s dissatisfaction with the recent agreement between Athens and Cairo. “They are fighting because in the event of a rapprochement between Turkey and Egypt, the illegal movements of Greece and its illegal moves in the Eastern Mediterranean will come to naught. In Libya, they have not received and will not receive any result,” he said.