“The United States deplores Turkey’s October 11 announcement of renewed Turkish survey activity in areas over which Greece asserts jurisdiction in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson claimed that Turkey’s announcement unilaterally has raised tensions in the region and deliberately complicated the resumption of crucial exploratory talks between our NATO Allies Greece and Turkey.

“Coercion, threats, intimidation, and military activity will not resolve tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the spokesperson noted.

She also called on Turkey to end this calculated provocation and immediately begin exploratory talks with Greece.

“Unilateral actions cannot build trust and will not produce enduring solutions,” she concluded. (ILKHA)