Tensions flared once again between Greece and Turkey as Ankara reacted strongly to Greece’s newly released Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework. According to Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, parts of the Greek plan allegedly violate Turkish maritime jurisdiction in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey's Response
In an official statement released on Holy Wednesday (April 16), the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as Greece’s unilateral actions, claiming:
“Some of the areas designated in Greece’s Marine Spatial Planning, based on EU legislation, encroach on maritime zones under Turkey’s jurisdiction in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.”
The statement continues with a firm stance, asserting that:
“Greece’s unilateral initiatives and claims hold no legal validity for our country.”
However, it also included a call for cooperation:
“We emphasize once again that unilateral actions in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas like the Aegean and the Mediterranean should be avoided. International maritime law encourages collaboration—especially on environmental matters—between coastal states. In this spirit, Turkey remains open to cooperation with Greece in the Aegean Sea.”
Turkey further stated that any attempts to create faits accomplis would neither now nor in the future be legally recognized by Ankara.
The Ministry concluded by referencing the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighborliness, signed on December 7, 2023, affirming that a genuine, comprehensive approach rooted in international law and good-faith diplomacy remains Turkey’s preferred path for resolving disputes.
It also noted that Turkey’s own Marine Spatial Plan has been submitted to UNESCO and relevant UN agencies.
Background on Greece’s Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)
Greece faced a deadline set by the European Court of Justice to submit its Marine Spatial Plan by the end of April. Although the maps were ready, the Greek government had delayed submission, aware that such a move could provoke Turkish backlash, as MSP boundaries often relate to the broader, contentious issue of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
This delay resulted in the European Commission imposing a fine on Greece.
When the Commission published marine maps of EU member states last year, Turkey lodged complaints, reviving the controversial claim of so-called "grey zones" in the Aegean.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis gave the green light for Greece to proceed with submitting the MSP, despite rising tensions. At the same time, however, reports suggest the planned Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection project has been put on hold.
Notably, the Turkish newspaper Milliyet also published Turkey’s own Marine Spatial Planning map today—rooted in Ankara’s expansive “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) doctrine. The Turkish plan reflects Turkey's ongoing ambitions over natural resources in the Aegean, likely pressuring the Greek government to resolve the pending MSP issue ahead of the looming EU deadline.
