"We consider this activity to be a threat to regional peace and stability," Mitsotakis told journalists after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Along with Cyprus, Israel and Greece signed an agreement in January on building an undersea pipeline to carry gas from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe. Ankara stands opposed to the deal and has sent ships to search for energy reserves off Cyprus, while last week the Turkish military conducted an air and naval exercise in the eastern Mediterranean.
"I have raised with the Prime Minister the recent incidents of illegal and provocative Turkish behavior at our sea and land borders," the Greek premier said, standing alongside Netanyahu. Mitsotakis also criticized the "destabilizing effects that Turkey has played vis-a-vis its relationship with Libya."
Ankara backs the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), based in the capital Tripoli, which for more than a year has battled an offensive by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. Turkey has sent air defense systems and drones and Syrian rebel fighters in support of the GNA, reversing earlier defeats to Haftar's forces.
Turkey launches major attack on Kurdish militants in Iraq
