After long kept secret, details emerge about how Greek and Turkish military ships crashed in the Aegean

The crash happened Wednesday, but it's only agreed today. According to the Turkish version, the Greek frigate Limnos conducted a disturbing maneuver against Turkish exploratory ship Oruc Reis, engaged in research activities within the Greek Economic Zone Greek Exclusivity (EEZ) not recognised by Ankara.

At this point, Turkish escort ship Kemal Reis intervened, which faced the Greek frigate, hitting it and forcing it to return. According to the Greek newspaper Ekatomerini, however, there was an apparent crash due to a mistake in Turkish warship maneuvering, which has the greatest damage.

The incident is included in the file Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias presents today to the EU Foreign Council, called by foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, at Athens' request.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu urged Union colleagues to denounciate “acts and Greece and Cyprus's unilateral alliances that have ruled out Turkey”.

For Ankara Minister, maritime agreement between Greece and Egypt “treads Turkish, Lebanon continental platforms” and “demonstrates Athens' readiness to enter an honest dialogue with Turkey“.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed the incident was Ankara's response to the threat by the Greek Navy.

“We said, if they attack us they'll pay a very high price. Today they received their first reply“, he commented. However, Greek diplomatic sources argue that Erdogan's claim only serves to justify “Major damage suffered by Turkish ship“.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have multiplied to ease tensions caused by Turkey's presence in the area outside the Greek island of Kastelorizo. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Charles Michel are keeping in touch with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Erdogan.