Once again, following their familiar pattern, Turkey is escalating tensions against Greece across multiple fronts, fueled particularly by the Ottoman-inspired ideology influencing Ankara’s political and military elite.
Believing they have the right to threaten anyone in the region, Turkish officials have now turned their focus on a new initiative by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias — the "Achilles' Shield" plan. Turkish media is portraying this plan as a potential cause for war, engaging in what can only be described as a form of psychological warfare.
According to reports, "after Turkey successfully blocked the illegal 'Great Sea Interconnector' (GSI) project — which aimed to establish an electrical connection between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel — on legitimate grounds, Greece unveiled a new strategic doctrine called 'Achilles' Shield.'"
The "Achilles' Shield" plan, described as a casus belli (cause for war) by Turkish media, has officially been set into motion.
Citing the Turkish newspaper Kıbrıs, it was reported that "Greece formally introduced its first Marine Spatial Planning framework, which would expand its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles at two key locations. Additionally, Greece announced the declaration of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Ionian Sea."
The article further notes that “Achilles' Shield” is bolstered by this Marine Spatial Planning effort, which segments the Aegean Sea into four regions — Northern Aegean, Dodecanese-Crete, Peloponnese, and Epirus-Ionian — and incorporates initiatives for environmental protection as well as energy and pipeline infrastructure development.
Kıbrıs also reported that the strategic partnership between Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and the United States — known as "3+1" — initially began as an energy cooperation initiative but has evolved into a broader strategic alliance aimed at countering Turkish influence. Furthermore, it was noted that Israel has supplied Greece with technology to enhance its defensive capabilities for critical infrastructures, such as the naval bases at Souda Bay and Alexandroupolis.