Syrigos: Greece “withdrew” twice in 2024 before Turkish warships during surveys for the power cable

New Democracy MP and professor of International Law Angelos Syrigos publicly acknowledged that Greece withdrew twice in the face of Turkish pressure during the undersea surveys for the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection. As he stated to the public broadcaster ERTNews, the two incidents occurred in 2024, when Turkish warships appeared in the survey area near Kasos.

“The first time, in July, five Turkish warships were deployed in the area with the aim of hindering the seabed surveys,” Syrigos told ERTNews. The second incident, according to him, occurred in November, with a renewed presence of Turkish warships in the neighboring area.

The Greek MP’s statement found wide resonance in Turkey. Turkey’s Anadolu news agency carried the statement “triumphantly”, as Greek media report, under the headline “Greek MP admitted they withdrew in 2024, when Turkey sent warships”. The statement has sparked heated debates in Athens about the government’s handling of the cable issue.

The cable issue, known as the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), has become one of the hottest points in Greek–Turkish relations. According to Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Athens will proceed with the necessary permits and NAVTEX notifications for the surveys and the laying of the cable, without asking Turkey’s permission. Around 60 percent of the seabed surveys have been completed, while the rest lies in disputed waters, where surveys are expected to resume in October.