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Turkish pro-government media have raised the idea of building artificial islands and offshore platforms in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean as a way for Ankara to strengthen its maritime presence and advance its claims in areas contested with Greece.<\/p>\n
The proposal has so far come from Turkish media and academics, not the Turkish government, and there is no indication that Ankara has formally adopted such a project.<\/p>\n
Levent Ersin Orali, a professor at Ankara\u2019s Hac\u0131 Bayram Veli University, argued in an article that artificial islands and marine platforms could be considered as part of Turkey\u2019s maritime strategy.<\/p>\n
He suggested such structures could strengthen Turkey\u2019s presence in the region and support capabilities including search and rescue operations, particularly around Greek islands such as Kastellorizo and Chios.<\/p>\n
A similar proposal was also published by the state controlled Habert\u00fcrk TV website, which referenced Kastellorizo and what it described as \u201cdisputed areas of the Aegean.\u201d<\/p>\n
The proposals draw comparisons with China\u2019s construction of artificial islands and military and infrastructure platforms in the South China Sea, although there is currently no indication of a comparable Turkish government programme in the Aegean.<\/p>\n
Greece and Turkey remain at odds over maritime boundaries, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone claims, as well as offshore exploration rights in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean.<\/p>\n
The emergence of the artificial island proposal adds another dimension to the wider debate over Turkey\u2019s maritime strategy and its longstanding disputes with Greece.<\/p>\n