Turkey threatened to block any unauthorized search for gas and oil in its economic exclusive zone in the eastern Mediterranean after Cyprus awarded hydrocarbon exploration and drilling rights in its offshore block 5 to a venture of Exxon Mobil and Qatar Petroleum . A part of the license area in question violates Turkey’s continental shelf in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement just hours after the Energy Ministry in Cyprus announced the deal. The disputed eastern Mediterranean has become an energy hot spot with big natural gas finds for European Union member Cyprus, Israel and Egypt in recent years, and Turkey’s push to secure a share of the resources has exacerbated strains between historic rivals. The European Commissioned has urged Turkey to sustain de-escalation in the region, while vowing to defend the interests of member states Greece and Cyprus if it didn’t. Turkey was […]