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Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Artak Zakaryan has reflected on the latest escalation of tensions between Turkey and Greece in the Aegean Sea.

“The situation in the Aegean Sea has significantly escalated in recent weeks due to the mutual provocations of Turkey and Greece, which put their armed forces on high alert and sent warships to the conflict zone,” he wrote on Facebook.

“Another escalation was triggered by the discovery of large oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea off the southern coast of Cyprus. The situation was further exacerbated by the agreement signed in January by Greece, Israel and Cyprus to build a gas pipeline to Europe.

“Due to the ongoing developments in the region, an anti-Turkish coalition of Greece, Egypt and France has been formed, with Israel tacitly joining in. The European Union actually sided with Greece, putting Ankara at a diplomatic and geopolitical disadvantage.

“To some extent, the conflict benefits Erdogan because it diverts public attention from serious economic problems and provides an opportunity to consolidate before the elections,” Zakaryan said.