Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to support international sanctions against Turkey following its militarily supported exploration for gas in waters recognised by UNCLOS as Greek territory; and if he will make a statement.

We do not currently believe that sanctions are the most effective instrument to resolve tensions between Turkey and Greece. Any EU listings decisions are a matter for EU member states. The UK will pursue an independent sanctions policy at the end of the Transition Period. We will look to carry over existing EU sanctions into domestic law wherever it helps to further the UK's foreign policy objectives. The transfer of each EU sanctions regime into UK law will be considered on a case by case basis, and designations transferred into UK autonomous sanctions regimes at the end of the Transition Period will be subject to a final ministerial decision-making process.

We believe it is critical for stability in the Mediterranean and for the integrity of the rules-based international system that disputes such as this are resolved, not through force, militarisation or coercion, but through dialogue and in accordance with international law. We will continue to work with the wider region to that end.