Great Sea Interconnector survey operations to resume amid regional tension

The research vessel Abeille Marengo is scheduled to depart from Heraklion on Monday, November 9, 2026, to conduct a six-month survey for the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project, linking Crete, Cyprus, and potentially Israel. This operation follows the issuance of official Greek permits and a NAVTEX notice, which have drawn a predictably measured but firm counter-NAVTEX response from Turkey, citing its 2020 unilateral maritime claims.

While Greek and Cypriot authorities remain on high alert, coordinating their actions to ensure the project proceeds without a repeat of the 2024 Kasos crisis, analysts suggest that Turkish maneuvers are primarily intended for domestic consumption. France has expressed support for the initiative, highlighting the involvement of French entities in the project. Meanwhile, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar recently claimed that Ankara’s previous proposals for electrical interconnection and gas pipeline cooperation were rejected by Athens for political reasons.

Greek and Cypriot armed forces are currently monitoring the situation, with frigates and drones deployed to oversee the survey area. As the vessel prepares to sail, authorities reiterate that Greece holds the sole legal authority to grant permissions for these activities under international law, maintaining that the energy project is essential for regional stability.