The hopes of a solution to the Cyprus issue ran high during the negotiations in Crans Montana, Switzerland, only to be swiftly extinguished by Turkey’s insistence to maintain a military presence and intervention rights on the island. Negotiations came to an end on July 7th and now the attention is focused on the energy game.

The hydrocarbon deposits in the southern waters of Cyprus are what incited the unification talks after all. The Turkish-Cypriot side wants a cut, but Turkey is not so willing to lose its privileges. So they do whatever is possible to disrupt or stop the exploitation of the reserves in the waters south of the Cyprus Republic as a means of pressure.

The beginning of drilling operations by the French company Total in block 11 in mid July raised the tensions in the area after the failed talks.

Turkey sees the exploitation of the natural gas reserves in the area as a unilateral move from the Greek-Cypriot side, a national entity they don’t recognize.