Germany and the European Union are locked in a diplomatic spat with Turkey after an aborted vessel inspection in the Mediterranean Sea over the weekend.

German forces, part of EUNAVFOR MED's Operation Irini, stopped the 1,122-teu Turkey-flag containership Roseline A (built 1998) on Sunday, suspicious that it was violating the United Nations arms embargo on Libya.

Forces backed off after Turkish officials allegedly retroactively denied the inspection.