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Türkiye has condemned unauthorized activities by a Norwegian-flagged research vessel operating in contested waters south of Cyprus, escalating tensions over maritime rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oncu Keceli said the vessel "Ramform Hyperion" was conducting unauthorized operations on the continental shelf where Turkish Cypriots hold equal rights alongside Greek Cypriots.
"The Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, which represents only the Greek Cypriot people, has no authority to make unilateral decisions around the island on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people," Keceli stated in response to questions about the vessel's activities.
The dispute centers on competing claims over hydrocarbon exploration rights in waters around the divided Mediterranean island. Cyprus has been split since 1974, with the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus controlling the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus governing the north, recognized only by Türkiye.
Keceli emphasized that Turkish Cypriots, as equal owners of the island, possess equal rights over the surrounding maritime areas. Türkiye supports the position of Northern Cyprus authorities, who had previously protested the vessel's operations.
The Northern Cyprus Foreign Ministry had earlier detected that the Ramform Hyperion was conducting unauthorized activities in hydrocarbon license areas allocated by Northern Cyprus to the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO). The ministry protested both the vessel's operations and related navigational warnings issued by the Greek Cypriot administration.
"The vessel must immediately cease these unauthorized activities and leave the continental shelf," Northern Cyprus authorities demanded, stating that any research in the Mediterranean waters requires permission from Northern Cyprus.
The statement reinforced that "Turkish Cypriots, as equal owners of the Cyprus island, are also equal owners of the waters around the island" and have "equal voice and rights in all steps to be taken regarding the island and its surroundings."
Türkiye's intervention reflects broader geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where competing claims over energy resources have strained relations between Türkiye, Greece, Cyprus and other regional powers. The European Union backs Cyprus's position, while Türkiye maintains that any agreements excluding Turkish Cypriots are invalid.
Keceli concluded by calling on third parties to "encourage dialogue and cooperation rather than supporting the uncompromising attitude of the Greek Cypriot Administration."
The incident highlights ongoing challenges to resolving the Cyprus dispute, which has persisted for decades despite numerous international mediation efforts.
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