Greece sparks tension in Aegean with 12-mile territorial claim

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ANKARA, TURKIYE — Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has reignited geopolitical tensions by asserting that Greece maintains a unilateral "sovereign right" to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea to 12 nautical miles.

The statement comes at a time when Turkiye is heavily focused on counter-terrorism operations against the PKK's Syrian affiliates. Analysts view Athens' move as a "silent and deep" tactical maneuver to alter the status quo in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. Minister Dendias characterized Turkiye’s long-standing casus belli (cause for war) declaration—maintained since 1995 to prevent such an expansion—as a threat against Greek sovereignty. In response, Yankı Bağcıoğlu, a retired Rear Admiral and Vice President of the CHP, dismissed the Greek claims as "illusions," emphasizing that the Turkish nation remains resolute in protecting its maritime rights under the "Blue Homeland" (Mavi Vatan) doctrine.

Strategic encirclement: The Sevilla Map

Retired Rear Admiral Cem Gürdeniz, the architect of the Blue Homeland doctrine, warns that Western-backed strategies aim to encircle Turkiye and restrict its maritime access. Gürdeniz points to the "Sevilla Map," a document promoted by the European Union since the early 2000s, which attempts to confine Turkiye to the small gulfs of Antalya and Iskenderun. Greece’s insistence on granting full continental shelf rights to every island effectively nullifies Turkiye’s legitimate maritime claims in the Aegean. Turkiye continues to advocate for a fair delimitation based on the median line between the Turkish and Greek mainlands.

NAVTEX maneuvers and pressure on Athens

Turkiye has countered Greek diplomatic and military provocations by issuing strategic NAVTEX (Navigational Telex) alerts that reinforce its sovereign claims. A recent NAVTEX, valid until December 31, 2027, has caused significant concern in Athens due to its "unusually long duration." These declarations emphasize that Turkiye maintains research and authorization jurisdiction over large swaths of the Aegean. Furthermore, Ankara reiterates that 23 islands in the Eastern Aegean must remain demilitarized according to international treaties. Greek media outlets, such as e-Kathimerini, acknowledge that Turkiye’s increasing strategic weight within NATO is forcing Athens into a defensive diplomatic posture.

Preserving the status quo in the Blue Homeland

Security experts argue that Turkiye's commitment to fighting terrorism on its land borders does not imply a retreat from its maritime interests. Bağcıoğlu’s warning that "the government may remember the Blue Homeland during elections, but the nation protects it under all conditions" highlights that maritime sovereignty is a non-partisan state policy. Turkiye's persistent use of NAVTEX and field activities serves as a vital barrier against any unilateral Greek attempt to expand territorial waters, which would effectively turn the Aegean into a "Greek lake."

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