U.S. senators urge Pompeo to work with EU against Turkish drilling in East Med

U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Chris Von Hollen
urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cooperate with the European Union to
prevent Turkey's drilling efforts in the eastern Mediterranean.
"The United States and the European Union
should immediately develop a plan of comprehensive joint sanctions that would
be imposed on key sectors of the Turkish economy if Turkey continues to pursue
illegal actions in the eastern Mediterranean and refuses to resolve these
matters through an impartial international tribunal," Menendez and Von
Hollen said in a letter ahead of Pompeo's meeting with Greek Foreign Minister
Nikos Dendias.
Greece and Turkey, two NATO allies, are in a dispute
due to competing claims over exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and hydrocarbon
exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean. The meeting between Dendias
and Pompeo comes days after Turkey sent a seismic survey vessel to contested
waters.
"Therefore, we urge you take all appropriate
measures to ensure Turkey removes its naval vessels from Greece’s EEZ and
adheres to its international obligations," the two senators said.
"The failure of the United States to act
decisively at this critical time will only invite further Turkish
escalation."
Turkey and the United States have been already at
odds over Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems, which Washington
maintains are incompatible with the alliance's defence systems.