Turkey has renewed its challenge to Greek sovereignty in the Aegean Sea, using Greece’s newly approved Special Spatial Framework for Tourism as the latest pretext.
Ankara Invokes “Gray Zones” Theory
In an official statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to “geographical features whose sovereignty has not been granted to Greece through international treaties” — language that directly revives Ankara’s long-standing “gray zones” theory regarding certain islands and islets in the Aegean.
Turkey declared that the Greek spatial plan “will have no legal consequences for Turkey” and accused Athens of attempting to instrumentalize environmental protection for political purposes.
Warning Against Unilateral Actions
Ankara further warned that “unilateral actions should be avoided in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas such as the Aegean and the Mediterranean,” arguing that international maritime law encourages cooperation among coastal states on environmental matters.
Call for Dialogue Under Athens Declaration
The statement concluded by reiterating Turkey’s readiness to cooperate with Greece and calling for a “sincere and comprehensive approach” to resolve outstanding issues on the basis of international law, equity, and good neighborliness, within the framework of the Athens Declaration of December 7, 2023.
Full Turkish Foreign Ministry statement:
“The Special Spatial Framework for Tourism announced today (August 7) by Greece, which also covers the Aegean Sea, will have no legal consequences for Turkey within the context of the interrelated Aegean issues between the two countries, including certain geographical features whose sovereignty was not transferred to Greece through international treaties.
In this context, we once again emphasize that efforts to instrumentalize universal values — such as environmental protection — for political purposes are futile and will in no way affect Turkey’s long-standing legal position.
Unilateral actions should be avoided in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas such as the Aegean and the Mediterranean. International maritime law encourages cooperation among coastal states in such seas, including on environmental matters. In this regard, we reiterate that Turkey, as one of the two Aegean coastal states, remains ready to cooperate with Greece.
Within the framework of the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighbourliness of December 7, 2023, Turkey maintains its position that a sincere and comprehensive approach must be adopted to resolve issues on the basis of international law, equity, and good neighborliness.”