Egypt proceeded with the announcement of 12 blocks for hydrocarbon exploration, sending messages of stability and intent to cooperate in the Eastern Mediterranean in all directions. 

Ten of these are in the Mediterranean, with the first four demarcated according to the long-term trends of Egyptian foreign policy. 

As reported by Kathimerini, block 1 “El Fouka” adjoins the southern side of the boundary of the Greek-Egyptian EEZ sectional agreement of August 2020, a message which is also addressed to Ankara, that considers that the Greek side of the area is within the Turkish continental shelf. 

Accordingly, two blocks in the northeast of Egypt (3 in Simian and 4 in western Zor) follow the agreements that Cairo has signed with Nicosia. 

However, the most interesting detail is hidden behind the announcement of the block “Burj al Arab,” which is located at an undefined point between Cyprus and the sea area south of Rhodes and Kastellorizos. 

According to well-informed sources, the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum has planned the block several miles south of the imaginary limits of the line that Ankara considers to be the dividing line of the Eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Egypt. 

It is noted that there is no demarcation agreement on this point, while Greece, Turkey, and the Republic of Cyprus have divergent views.

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