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Greece has formally reminded Turkey that it retains the right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles<\/strong>, escalating its diplomatic response to Ankara\u2019s maritime claims and the declaration of new marine parks.<\/p>\n The reference to the 12 nautical mile territorial sea<\/strong> was included in a diplomatic demarche delivered by Athens to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.<\/p>\n In the diplomatic note, Greece stated \u201cin a formal and explicit manner\u201d that its right to extend the territorial sea of its islands to 12 nautical miles<\/strong>, in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)<\/strong>, remains unaffected.<\/p>\n The move sends a clear message to Ankara while also formally recording Greece\u2019s legal position on the long-running dispute over maritime boundaries in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Greek officials also consider the diplomatic record important should Greek-Turkish disputes eventually be taken before the International Court of Justice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Athens is preparing for several potential developments that could increase tensions with Turkey in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n One key issue is the publication of presidential decrees implementing Greece\u2019s Maritime Spatial Planning<\/strong>, which could further clarify Athens\u2019 position on maritime activities and jurisdiction.<\/p>\n Greek authorities are also monitoring the possibility of a Turkish \u201cBlue Homeland\u201d (Mavi Vatan)<\/strong> bill that could seek to impose restrictions on activities beyond Turkey\u2019s territorial waters.<\/p>\n Another potential source of tension is the possible restart of the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection project<\/strong>, which has previously attracted strong Turkish objections.<\/p>\n Athens is also examining several possible scenarios that could lead to a renewed escalation.<\/p>\n These include the return of research activity similar to the 2020 Oru\u00e7 Reis episode<\/strong>, when Turkish seismic surveys triggered a major confrontation with Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p>\n Other scenarios being assessed include the deployment of Turkish fishing fleets in areas claimed by Greece<\/strong>, renewed overflights by Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles, and tensions connected to future deliveries of Israeli defence systems associated with Greece\u2019s Achilles\u2019 Shield<\/strong> programme.<\/p>\n The scenarios are being closely monitored as Athens seeks to prepare for potential challenges without allowing individual incidents to develop into a wider crisis.<\/p>\n Despite the potential flashpoints, the Greek government currently assesses that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan<\/strong> is pursuing a strategy of sustained tension and pressure rather than preparing for an immediate military crisis.<\/p>\n Communication channels between Greece and Turkey<\/strong> remain open.<\/p>\n Recent contacts involving Turkish intelligence chief \u0130brahim Kal\u0131n<\/strong> in Athens are viewed as evidence that dialogue between the two sides continues despite disagreements over maritime rights and territorial waters.<\/p>\n However, a meeting between Erdo\u011fan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis<\/strong> on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly<\/strong> is currently considered unlikely.<\/p>\n The explicit reference by Athens to Greece\u2019s 12 nautical mile right<\/strong> nevertheless represents an important diplomatic reminder to Ankara that Greece continues to reserve the right to extend its territorial waters in accordance with international law.<\/p>\nGreece and Turkey monitor new maritime flashpoints<\/h2>\n
Four scenarios could trigger renewed Greece-Turkey tensions<\/h2>\n