Turkey to resume drilling for gas near Cyprus

Turkey next month will resume drilling operation near the divided island of Cyprus, a top official said Wednesday, threatening to spark a new diplomatic row with the EU.

The European Union came close to sanctioning Ankara in 2020 for pushing into contested east Mediterranean waters in search of fresh natural gas reserves.

Turkey had been drilling near waters claimed by its historic rival Greece and the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) -- recognised only by Ankara.