NATO allies Turkey and Greece vehemently disagree over claims to natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean and the extent of their continental shelves.
Turkey and Greece, NATO allies, disagree over claims to hydrocarbon resources in the area based on conflicting views on the extent of their continental shelves in waters dotted with mostly Greek islands.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Reuters the Western alliance was considering so-called deconfliction measures to prevent naval accidents in an increasingly congested region.
Turkey and Greece disagree over natural gas reserves off Cyprus and the extent of their continental shelves.
Turkey has carried out natural gas surveys in the eastern Mediterranean
President Tayyip Erdogan said Aug. 13 that any attack on a Turkish ship exploring for oil and gas in disputed Mediterranean waters would incur a "high price."
Chevron Corp. last year proposed to acquire a stake of at least 50% in Noble Energy's Eastern Mediterranean natural-gas fields, talks that led to July's all-stock deal.
Turkey will issue gas exploration and drilling licenses in the eastern Mediterranean this month, its foreign minister said Aug. 11, further raising tensions with Greece, which said it would seek an emergency EU meeting to address the issue.
In Greece, diplomats said the deal effectively nullified an accord between Turkey and the internationally recognized government of Libya.
Chevron became the first energy major to enter the Israeli market when it agreed last month to buy Texas-based Noble Energy, which has stakes in Israeli offshore gas fields.