Talks between Turkish and Greek officials at NATO headquarters on how to avoid a military escalation in the eastern Mediterranean have been postponed two days until September 10, Reuters reported, citing sources in the Turkish Defense Ministry.

The delay was requested by the military committee of the alliance, they said.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last week that Athens and Ankara had agreed to talks to avoid incidents amid escalating disputes over the length of continental shelves and claims over potential energy reserves in the Mediterranean.