Turkey launches massive Sea Wolf naval drill as Greece-Turkey tensions flare

Turkish Naval Forces kicked off the first phase of the twice-yearly Sea Wolf (Denizkurdu) exercise on Sunday, with operations slated through Sept. 25. The drill mobilises around 100 vessels, 50 aircraft—including drones—and 14,000 personnel from the navy, army, air force and coast guard, testing capabilities in the Black Sea, Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. Organisers stress the manoeuvre’s role in sharpening operational readiness and showcasing Turkey’s expanding fleet of domestically produced platforms such as the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, frigate TCG Istanbul, replenishment ship TCG Derya, the Murat Reis submarine and several unmanned surface vessels.

The exercise aligns with Ankara’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine, asserting maritime rights amid a dispute with Greece over islands like Kastellorizo, which Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited recently. The Turkish defence ministry warned Athens against actions that would breach the island’s demilitarised status, while Greek outlets described the drill as a politically charged show of force. Parallel Greek-Egyptian and Greek-Israeli naval activities underscore the broader regional rivalry.