Off the divided island of Cyprus, Turkish warships are blocking exploration by an Italian drillship, stirring up a decades-long row and dragging in Egypt and the European Union.
At the same time the US is trying to mediate between foes Israel and Lebanon as they spar for control along a disputed maritime border where Beirut is looking to catch up.
“What we see is that energy becomes another flashpoint — so when there is tension between countries, that tension spills over into energy,” said Nikos Tsafos, a senior associate at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Read more: Tensions flare in east Mediterranean gas scramble | Daily Mail Online