Greece protests Turkey's maritime park claims, seeks diplomatic dialogue amid Aegean tensions

On instructions from Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, the Greek Embassy in Ankara submitted a formal protest to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, challenging Ankara’s objections to Greece’s special spatial planning frameworks and the presidential decree creating two national maritime parks. Greece argued that the Turkish objections lack support in international law and that existing treaties clearly establish Aegean sovereignty.

It also disputed the legality of Turkey’s own maritime park declarations that extend beyond its jurisdiction into areas Greece regards as its continental shelf. Diplomatic notes were exchanged, with Turkey reiterating its long-standing claims over continental shelves, island demilitarisation and maritime zones. Athens said it will alert European and international partners to any unilateral Turkish actions deemed contrary to international law. Meanwhile, intelligence chiefs Ibrahim Kalin and Themistoklis Demiris met to maintain cooperation on security issues, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis linked Turkey’s EU prospects to respect for international law, while both leaders are expected at the UN General Assembly in New York.