Oruc Reis

Türkiye's daily and monthly natural gas and crude oil production broke new records in October, according to the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.

Domestic crude oil production reached an all-time monthly high of 3.36 million barrels, while the country's natural gas output hit 234.4 million cubic meters, the ministry said in a statement on Nov. 6.

Energy  Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has described Türkiye's onshore and offshore natural gas and oil exploration activities in Somalia as a "game changer," saying that international companies may join those operations in the future.

Turkish research vessel Oruç Reis last week arrived in Somalia to conduct seismic surveys for oil and natural gas.

Turkish research vessel Oruç Reis has arrived off the coast of Somalia to conduct seismic surveys for oil and natural gas, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced on Oct. 25.

"Oruç Reis has reached its mission location after its journey across continents," Bayraktar shared on X.

The Turkish research vessel Oruc Reis is set to embark on an important mission this Saturday, departing from Istanbul to explore hydrocarbon deposits along the coast of Somalia. This significant journey will mark a key step in Turkey’s ongoing efforts to expand its influence in the region’s energy sector.

Ceremony in Istanbul

Defense officials are worried about Turkish shipyards' growing capacity to turn out fighting vessels as well as the rising costs of keeping up with Greece's nominally allied neighbor.

Greece has hit the button to actualize 13 military projects worth some 800 million euros, including the enlargement of a navy base in the Souda Bay of the island of Crete that will cost around 190 million euros.

Ankara is flexing its military muscle in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in an apparent effort to torpedo efforts to proceed with the construction of the EastMed pipeline by imposing its own maps and pushing its expansionist theory of the "Blue Motherland" at sea.

January is expected to be a month of developments in Greek-Turkish relations, with Athens reportedly eyeing a possible restart of exploratory talks with Ankara.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan brushed off possible European Union sanctions against Turkey on Wednesday, saying they would not affect his country.

Speaking to reporters before departing for a visit to Azerbaijan, Erdogan also accused the EU of acting "dishonestly" toward Turkey and of failing to keep its promises.

Turkey's recent moves to de-escalate a clash with Greece and Cyprus over east Mediterranean energy reserves are "unconvincing" and European Union leaders need to take action that will prompt Ankara to heed international law, Greece's foreign minister said on Friday.