Greece announces plans to expand territorial waters in Aegean Sea

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis announced intentions to extend the country's territorial waters and establish a second marine park in the Aegean. He criticized Türkiye's "Blue Homeland" doctrine as expansionist while affirming a commitment to continued dialogue.

Greece has declared its intention to formally expand its territorial waters and create a second marine protected area in the Aegean Sea, a move that directly impacts its complex relationship with neighboring Türkiye. Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis outlined these plans in parliament on Friday, emphasizing his government's efforts to consolidate maritime sovereignty and counter what he labeled as "expansionist" policies from Ankara.

A Strategic Maritime Agenda

Gerapetritis detailed a series of maritime initiatives undertaken by the ruling New Democracy party since 2019. These include the establishment of the first Aegean marine park, the finalization of a national marine spatial planning framework, and the signing of maritime boundary delimitation agreements with Egypt and Italy. The announcement of a planned second marine park and a potential expansion of territorial waters represents the next phase in this strategy. The minister argued that Greece now possesses stronger legal and diplomatic arguments than ever, backed by the standards and solidarity of the European Union.

Direct Critique of Türkiye's "Blue Homeland" Doctrine

Central to the Greek minister's address was a pointed critique of Türkiye's foreign policy. He explicitly characterized Türkiye's "Blue Homeland" (Mavi Vatan) doctrine—a strategic concept asserting Turkish rights in the surrounding seas—as an "expansionist" vision that is "unacceptable." This doctrine is a cornerstone of contemporary Turkish strategic thinking, emphasizing sovereignty over a wide maritime zone in the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Seas. Gerapetritis's remarks frame Greece's own actions as a defensive and lawful response to what it perceives as Turkish overreach.

Dialogue Amidst Firm Stances

Despite the firm rhetoric, the Greek foreign minister left the door open for diplomacy. He acknowledged that dialogue with Türkiye would continue, while simultaneously asserting that Greece's national sovereignty is "nonnegotiable." This statement follows a phone call earlier in the week between Gerapetritis and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, which touched on bilateral relations and an anticipated visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Türkiye in February. The juxtaposition of planned unilateral actions with a commitment to talks underscores the delicate and often tense nature of Greco-Turkish relations, where competition over maritime jurisdiction and airspace remains a persistent source of friction with the potential to escalate.