The fact that Chevron, the world’s second-largest energy company, will expand its exploration for hydrocarbons in Greece, is an extremely positive step for our country’s energy and geopolitical upgrade. Most importantly, the two offshore blocks south of Crete that interest the American giant effectively “intersect” and thus nullify in practice the illegal Turkey-Libya memorandum.
Read: Hydrocarbons: Chevron gets blocks in Crete and Peloponnese
Chevron and the Turkey-Libya memorandum
Specifically, the so-called “South Crete II” block overlaps the Turkey-Libya area by 20%-25%. With its assignment to Chevron, Turkish claims will be practically nullified, thus confirming that the median line (based on the Maniatis law) is the jurisdictional boundary between Greece and Libya. The Turkey-Libya memorandum is baseless, lacks legal validity, which is why it is (also) disregarded by the American energy giant. This development will undoubtedly displease Ankara, as it will realize both that its attempt to create illegal fait accompli in the region falls flat and that Greece-US cooperation is intensifying.
Greece becomes integral part of American energy strategy
Already, our country constitutes an integral part of the United States’ energy planning, thanks to Alexandroupoli and Revithoussa. According to well-informed sources, currently 81% of LNG imported by Greece comes from the US, with our country ranking in the top-15 American customers, a fact that the planet’s leader’s associates appreciate accordingly.
It cannot be considered coincidental that American energy “czar” Doug Bergum decided to come to Athens at this particular time. He’s not just any official. He’s President Trump’s man for energy matters, as besides being Secretary of the Interior, he also heads the all-powerful US Energy Dominance Council. The relevant Minister, Stavros Papastavrou, made sure to visit him in Washington in May, and thus America’s number 3 leader decided to include Greece in his first official transatlantic trip. With all that this entails for accelerating Chevron’s plans and Greece’s geopolitical upgrade in Donald Trump’s eyes. And in our neighbors’ eyes as well…
