Athens, Greece. Greece plans to extend its territorial waters further, potentially including in the Aegean Sea, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said in parliament. Turkey has long threatened war if Greece unilaterally expands its waters beyond six nautical miles in the Aegean.
Dispute with Turkey in the Aegean
Although NATO allies, Greece and Turkey remain at odds over maritime boundaries in the Aegean, an area believed to hold significant energy potential and with implications for overflights and airspace. Tensions have eased in recent years, but disagreements persist over where their continental shelves begin and end.
Previous extensions and maritime agreements
Greece has extended its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea to 12 nautical miles from six, following agreements with Italy, and it has signed a maritime delimitation deal with Egypt in the eastern Mediterranean. It has avoided similar moves in the Aegean, where Turkey has objected sharply.
Gerapetritis’ remarks in parliament
Answering questions in parliament on Friday, Gerapetritis said further expansion was expected. “Today, our sovereignty in the Aegean Sea extends to six nautical miles,” he said. “As there was an agreement with Egypt, as there was an agreement with Italy, there will also be a (further) extension of the territorial waters.” He did not specify which maritime areas could be extended.
Turkey’s stance and response
In 1995, the Turkish parliament declared a “casus belli”, or cause for war, if Greece unilaterally extended its waters beyond six nautical miles in the Aegean, a position Athens says violates international maritime law. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry was not immediately available for comment.
Marine parks announcement
In July, Greece unveiled the boundaries of two planned marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean seas. The Aegean park, covering 9,500 square kilometres (3,668 square miles), would initially expand around the southern Cyclades islands, further south of Turkey, according to maps submitted by Athens. The announcement has drawn objections from Ankara.
What impact could a further extension of Greece’s territorial waters have on relations with Turkey?