Turkey conducts exercises in eastern Mediterranean Turkey conducts exercises in eastern Mediterranean Turkey"s defense ministry said "elements of our navy command" conducted the exercises. (AFP/File) Short Url https://arab.news/4dekh Updated 20 December 2020 AFP December 20, 2020 16:10 2003 Turkey at loggerheads with EU members Greece and Cyprus over energy resources EU plans sanctions on Turkey over its "illegal and aggressive" actions in the zone. ANKARA: Turkey has carried out naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean, the defence ministry said Sunday, against a backdrop of tensions with its neighbours over energy exploration in the region. The defence ministry said on its Twitter account that "elements of our navy command" conducted the exercises, without specifying the location other than "eastern Mediterranean". However it posted photos showing a naval vessel firing a cannon. Turkey is at loggerheads with EU members Greece and Cyprus over energy resources in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean. The exercises follow an announcement by the European Union on Dec. 10 of plans to impose sanctions on Turkey over its "illegal and aggressive" actions in the zone. On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a videoconference call that Turkey wants to turn over a new leaf with the European Union. He insisted that Turkey"s attitude was "constructive" while accusing Greece of running away from talks.