According to reports from the Cypriot media, a new Turkish warning regarding Navtex military activities off the coast of Cyprus reports that the area will be engaged for military exercises from February 22 to March 10. This statement, in fact, extends the block until March 10 (which would expire on Thursday); this prevents Eni's exploratory drilling for natural gas (Saipem 12000) at the Cuttlefish site, in block 3 of the “Exclusive economic zone” of the island of Cyprus.
The presence of the Ankara navy in the "Exclusive Economic Zone" of Cyprus was perceived and denounced by the government itself as a violation of international law. Ankara, on the other hand, insists on the right of the Turkish Cypriot community to share the island's natural resources.
Sources in the Nicosia government, in recent days, had argued that in the event of an extension of the Turkish naval blockade, the Saipem 12000 would not have been able to wait in the area as it was engaged in further planned activities off the coast of Morocco in March.