Greece reaffirms commitment to Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection despite Turkish demands

The Greek government has officially reaffirmed its commitment to the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project, which aims to link the power grids of Greece and Cyprus. Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis emphasized that the project will proceed as planned, bolstered by the involvement of the French firm Meridiam as a key stakeholder. This announcement comes amid reported diplomatic requests from Ankara, which demands to be informed prior to any survey or cable-laying operations in maritime areas where Turkey claims to hold sovereign rights.

While Ankara states it is not opposed to the connectivity infrastructure itself, it insists on a formal communication process to coordinate activities and avoid disputes. Conversely, the Greek government has flatly rejected the necessity of Turkish authorization, asserting that all planned actions are based firmly on International Law and the Law of the Sea. Official statements from Athens indicate that any attempt to disrupt the project will be met with a decisive response, emphasizing the project's strategic and European importance.

The project, which had been frozen since July 2024 following tensions near the island of Kasos, is now entering a new phase of development. The next critical step involves resuming the bathymetric surveys necessary to determine the subsea cable route. The Greek administration remains steadfast in its schedule, dismissing Turkish provocations as matters of internal political posturing while maintaining readiness to defend its maritime jurisdiction.