NICOSIA – The World Hellenic Diaspora has drawn up a petition seeking support for Greece against Turkey's drilling for energy off Cyprus and plans to send energy research vessels off Greek islands, which put the Greek military on high alert.

The petition, said Kathimerini, will be send to US President Donald Trump, who is a friend of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the two speak frequently on the phone, the American leader calling his counterpart “a hell of a leader.”

Among others, the paper said, it will also go to European Council Charles Michel, who has called only for more diplomacy and talks with Turkey at a later stage, to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, and the leaders of the other 26 EU members.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will also get the petition but he has already indicated he wants no part of the brewing trouble between the countries and that the defense alliance to which both belong wouldn't sanction Turkey over anything, including repeatedly violating Greek airspace and waters.

“Turkey’s recent actions have not only infringed upon Greece’s territorial integrity but also have hurt our national, religious, and cultural sentiments. These aggressive behaviors have brought Greece to the brink of a dangerous military conflict which may precipitate at any moment,” the petition reads.

“Turkey’s internal political gamesmanship and the thirst to remain in power is forcing conflicts with its neighboring countries like Greece, Cyprus, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Egypt, and Libya. When will this end?”

Based on what's happened so far, the petition is likely to go nowhere as the EU has been reluctant to confront Erdogan, issuing only soft sanctions exempting him and top officials over the Cyprus drilling and giving Greece only verbal support.

Stop Turkey’s Provocation against Greece & Cyprus