USA backs Greece-Egypt EEZ agreement at Turkey’s expense

“The United States encourages all states to resolve their maritime boundaries peacefully in accordance with international law,” a spokesperson for the US Department of State said following the signing of a maritime borders agreement between Greece and Egypt on Thursday.

The unnamed American official’s comment to Greek journalists appeared to signal Washington’s support for the agreement, which delineates and exclusive economic zone between the two Mediterranean countries.

The agreement on the EEZ was signed by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who hastily went to Cairo to meet his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry.

The representative of the Egyptian Foreign Minister posted on Twitter: “Part of the signing ceremony of an agreement for the establishment of an exclusive economic zone between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Greece.”

Meanwhile, according to information from OPEN TV, Ankara informed Athens that for its part, the exploratory contacts that were to start on August 24 are being cancelled for the time being.

The announcement of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the Greek agreement with Egypt is “non-existent.”

“There is no sea border between Greece and Egypt. For Turkey, the so-called agreement on the definition of maritime areas, which was announced to have been signed today [yesterday], is non-existent . Let our point of view be known both on the front and on the table,” the Turkish announcement said.