Mediterranean

• Turkey and Greece opened negotiations on Monday in Athens to address longstanding maritime boundary disputes and resource rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, marking the first high-level talks in eighteen months. • Both countries appointed senior diplomats to address competing claims over exclusive economic zones and the status of disputed islands, with the EU facilitating discussions. • U.S. State Department officials welcomed the resumption of dialogue, calling it essential for regional stability and noting that resolution could improve NATO cohesion in Southeast Europe.

• The UK and France announced a joint initiative on April 7 to address Mediterranean migration flows, with both countries deploying increased naval assets and proposing new burden-sharing mechanisms among EU member states. • Record numbers of migrants attempted Channel crossings in March; both nations acknowledged root causes including conflict in Syria, instability in Afghanistan, and economic desperation in North Africa. • The agreement includes expanded search-and-rescue coordination, joint processing centers, and humanitarian support; however, European capitals remain divided over permanent asylum burden-sharing frameworks.

Royal Navy type 45 destroyer deployed to reinforce security around RAF base in Cyprus to undergo short maintenance stop, says MoDHMS Dragon has docked in the eastern Mediterranean after suffering technical issues with its water systems.The UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, announced on 3 March that the type 45 destroyer would be deployed to reinforce security around RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, two days after the base was struck by a Shahed 136 drone. Continue reading...