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Turkish Defence Ministry spokesperson Zeke Akt\u00fcrk officially announced the surface naval exercise, \u201cDenizkurdu-I\u201d, which will involve activities across several strategically important areas.<\/p>\n
The exercise comes as the period of relative calm in the Aegean faces renewed pressure from the systematic return of Turkish claims and rhetoric concerning the region.<\/p>\n
Exercise to span four maritime regions<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDenizkurdu-I\u201d will take place simultaneously in the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p>\n According to Ankara, the exercise aims to test interoperability procedures and strengthen decision-making capabilities in a multiple-threat environment.<\/p>\n The exercise will reach its peak on September 24 during the Distinguished Visitors Day, or DV-Day.<\/p>\n Activities that day will take place in the Eastern Mediterranean aboard the TCG Anadolu, Turkey\u2019s amphibious assault ship and flagship platform of its defence industry.<\/p>\n The deployment of the TCG Anadolu highlights Ankara\u2019s stated capability to conduct operations beyond its coastline and sends messages to both Athens and Nicosia.<\/p>\n Exercise comes amid renewed tensions<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDenizkurdu-I\u201d comes against an already strained backdrop.<\/p>\n Despite efforts to keep communication channels open through confidence-building measures, developments on the ground indicate a shift from a period of de-escalation towards renewed, controlled tensions.<\/p>\n In recent months, Ankara has intensified its rhetoric. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has raised issues concerning the military presence on Greek islands.<\/p>\n Several other disputes continue to affect Greek-Turkish relations.<\/p>\n Maritime parks:<\/em> Turkey\u2019s adoption of maritime spatial plans in the Aegean, including areas between Greek islands such as Lemnos and Samothrace, has prompted a strong response from Athens.<\/p>\n The Blue Homeland doctrine: <\/em>Ankara continues to frame its military exercises within the \u201cBlue Homeland\u201d doctrine, while challenging Greek claims concerning the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.<\/p>\n The Great Sea Interconnector: <\/em>Geopolitical tensions surrounding the electricity cable linking Crete and Cyprus have revived concerns about a possible naval confrontation in the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p>\n Against this backdrop, the large-scale exercise in the Aegean adds another source of pressure.<\/p>\n The return of violations of Greek national airspace by Turkish fighter jets and UAVs further underlines the level of operational activity between the two countries.<\/p>\n Greek Armed Forces remain on alert<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Athens is closely monitoring movements by the Turkish fleet.<\/p>\n As with the previous \u201cDenizkurdu-II\u201d exercise, the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA) has placed Greek units on heightened alert.<\/p>\n Greek Navy units, submarines and surveillance assets have deployed to key positions across the Aegean to monitor Turkish movements.<\/p>\n The \u201cDenizkurdu-I\u201d exercise underlines the continuing fragility of the geopolitical environment in the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n