“Currently, we also took this step with Northern Cyprus. And in a very short time, possibly this week, it may happen we will start work in this exclusive economic region,” Erdogan told a news conference before leaving on a visit to the United States.

Turkey disputed an agreement signed last year by Cyprus and Israel over an exclusive economic zone that set maritime borders and rights to explore natural resources. Erdogan said the Turkish military would monitor activity in the area using aircraft, a frigate and torpedo boats.

Turkey backs a Turkish Cypriot breakaway state in northern Cyprus and says any natural resources found offshore should belong to both communities.

Cyprus’ energy chief said US firm Noble Energy has begun offshore exploratory drilling for oil and gas.

Solon Kassinis said Monday that rig workers have already drilled about 80 meters beneath the seabed inside the island’s exclusive economic zone, which is close to sizable gas finds within Israeli waters.

Meanwhile, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said: “If Greek Cyprus sticks to the timetable it announced previously, we will start drilling activity next week.”

Yildiz called on Cyprus “to hold immediately” those plans, failing which Turkey would retaliate.

He said Ankara had signed an agreement with a Norwegian company for seismic drilling off the island, but he refuse to name it.

“First of all, we will start exploration with one vessel,” he said, adding that the Turkish navy may escort drilling ships in the eastern Mediterranean. Yildiz repeated that “depending on the developments, Turkey could sign a continental shelf agreement” with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Ankara.

With such an agreement, the TRNC would grant Turkey the right to share offshore energy sources, the minister explained.

Yildiz lashed out at the Cypriot government’s attempts as “provocation.”

Turkey has threatened to freeze its ties with the European Union, which it wants to join, if member Cyprus takes the rotating presidency of the bloc as scheduled next year. Yildiz warned, however, that Cyprus-led energy deals could force Turkey to move earlier. “That will be an important choice for the EU, between Turkey and Greek Cyprus,” he said.