Turkey Irritates Greece with Fresh Maritime Actions, Ventures Italy-Libya Allies
In the ongoing maritime dispute between Turkey and Greece, both countries have recently declared marine protection areas (MPAs) that have intensified diplomatic discomfort.
On July 21, 2025, Greece announced the creation of two marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean Seas, aiming to protect underwater wildlife and promote marine spatial planning. Greece asserts that its sovereignty and maritime boundaries in the Aegean are clearly defined by international treaties, dismissing Turkish objections as lacking legal basis.
Turkey, however, opposes Greece’s unilateral declarations, viewing them as creating "fait accompli" situations and concerning areas of disputed sovereignty over islands, islets, and rocks. Ankara considers Greece's marine parks as having no legal effect on Turkey’s legitimate rights and interests, and warns against unilateral moves in semi-enclosed seas like the Aegean.
In response, Turkey has publicly announced and internationally registered its own Marine Spatial Planning, including the designation of marine protected areas off Gökçeada in the northern Aegean and off Finike in the Mediterranean. The country plans to expand these protected areas while maintaining economic activity and compliance with international maritime law.
Diplomatically, Turkey stresses that these issues have been repeatedly conveyed to Greece through official channels and advocates for dialogue and cooperation based on international law, equity, and good neighborliness. The 2023 Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighborliness serves as a foundation for such discussions.
Despite tensions, both countries have in recent years taken some confidence-building steps, including a summit between President Erdoğan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah in Istanbul's Dolmabahçe Palace. The meeting focused on energy exploration in the Mediterranean, irregular migration, and the political process to restore stability in Libya.
However, Greece, citing violations of its maritime jurisdiction, has raised concerns about Turkey’s actions, including spatial planning moves. Tensions remain amid broader geopolitical issues such as Cyprus and migration.
As of August 2025, the maritime dispute between Turkey and Greece in the Aegean Sea remains unresolved and tense, with both countries continuing to assert their rights vigorously while expressing a willingness, at least officially, to pursue discussions within frameworks of international law.
- The ongoing maritime dispute between Turkey and Greece has sparked intense diplomatic discomfort, with each country declaring marine protection areas (MPAs).
- On July 21, 2025, Greece announced the creation of marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean Seas, aiming to protect underwater wildlife and promote marine spatial planning.
- Turkey opposes Greece’s unilateral declarations, seeing them as creating "fait accompli" situations and concerning areas of disputed sovereignty over islands, islets, and rocks.
- Turkey's marine protected areas have been designated off Gökçeada in the northern Aegean and off Finike in the Mediterranean, with plans to expand them while maintaining economic activity.
- Diplomatically, Turkey advocates for dialogue and cooperation based on international law, equity, and good neighborliness, with the 2023 Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighborliness serving as a foundation for discussions.
- Despite tensions, both countries have taken some confidence-building steps, including a summit in Istanbul's Dolmabahçe Palace focusing on energy exploration, irregular migration, and the political process to restore stability in Libya.
- Greece, citing violations of its maritime jurisdiction, has raised concerns about Turkey’s actions, including spatial planning moves, and tensions remain amid broader geopolitical issues such as Cyprus and migration.
- Amid the ongoing dispute, both countries continue to assert their rights vigorously while expressing a willingness to pursue discussions within frameworks of international law.
- The issues of war-and-conflicts, general-news, politics, science, industry, culture, arts, environment, and environmental-science are intertwined with these regional tensions, shaping the world's political landscape.
