US strongly supports Greece-Turkey dialogue to resolve maritime dispute: Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on September 29 that United States strongly supports dialogue between Greece and Turkey, amid rising tensions over energy resources. Pompeo is on a two-day trip to Greece and visited NATO base of Souda Bay on Crete with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. 

After visit, top US diplomat said that United States encour NATO allies to resume discussion on contentious issues as soon as possible. Last month, US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation with Mitsotakis and urged NATO allies to commit to dialogue to resolve ongoing maritime dispute over Eastern Mediterranean.

tensions are running high between Greece and Turkey over exploration operations in disputed waters of eastern Mediterranean. Both countries have been sending warships in disputed zone to shadow ir drilling vessels and European Union has been following situation closely.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserted that he would make “ concessions” in eastern Mediterranean and is determined to do whatever necessary to claim its rights. At an event to commemorate 11th-century military victory by Seljuk Turks over Byzantine empire at Malazgirt, Erdogan urged Greece to avoid mistakes that “will be path to ruin.”

"We don't have our eye on someone else's territory, sovereignty and interests, but we will make concessions on that which is ours," Erdogan said.

Read: Pompeo Pledges To Use US' 'influence' To De-escalate Greece-Turkey Tensions

Read: Mike Pompeo To Travel To Greece, Italy For A High-level Meeting With Officials

27-member bloc has already imposed an entry ban and asset freeze on two Turkish energy executives, with France deploying ships to eastern Mediterranean. Recently, US Senators urged State Secretary Mike Pompeo and EU to impose sanctions on key sectors of Turkish ecomy for its “illegal” drilling operations in Eastern Mediterranean.

Letter from US Senators

Bob Menendez, a ranking member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen wrote to Pompeo, citing Ankara’s recent deployment of naval vessels to accompany a drilling ship into “Greece’s exclusive ecomic zone”. duo urged Pompeo to immediately start working with EU on a coordinated response to Turkey’s “increasing provocations and illegal actions” in Eastern Mediterranean.

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Read: Turkey, Greece Signal Willingness To Talk After Weeks Of Standoff In Eastern Mediterranean

(Im: AP)