Any unauthorised drilling activity in Turkey’s ‘continental shelf’ off the southern coast of Cyprus will be immediately dealt with, sources at the Turkish defence ministry were reported as warning on Thursday.

The Cyprus News Agency quoted sources at the country’s defence ministry as saying that part of offshore Block 5 of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) falls within what Turkey considers its ‘continental shelf’.

The sources were referring to the activities of the Valaris DS-9 drillship, currently conducting operations within Cyprus’ Block 10 on behalf of the Exxon Mobil-Qatar Energy consortium.

They said that as long as the rig remains in Block 10 “this does not conflict with our area of maritime jurisdiction.”

However, should the drillship subsequently venture into Block 5, specifically that section of Block 5 which Turkey says falls within its area of maritime jurisdiction, then Turkey would immediately act to stop it.

“Any violation of our continental shelf, which we declared with the United Nations on March 18, 2020, shall be deterred immediately,” the Turkish defence sources reportedly stated.

“For the time being, the Valaris DS-9 drillship is located in so-called Block 10. So-called Block 10 does not conflict with our area of maritime jurisdiction.”

They added that a new Navtex (notice to mariners) issued by “the Greek Cypriot administration of southern Cyprus” for drilling activities in Block 5 in the so-called EEZ” is null and void.

The Navtex in question appears to be the one issued by Republic of Cyprus authorities on April 28.

In mid-April the Valaris DS-9 rig had completed drilling activities in Block 5, at the Elektra-1 prospect. It had then moved on to Block 10 to conduct exploration drilling at the Pegasus-1 well, again on behalf of Exxon Mobil and Qatar Energy.

Turkey is the only member state of the United Nations that does not recognise Cyprus, or therefore that Cyprus has an exclusive economic zone.

The country is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Cyprus has signed and ratified.