Turkey has reiterated its longstanding position challenging Greek sovereignty over certain areas of the Aegean Sea, this time using Greece’s newly approved Special Spatial Framework for Tourism as a pretext. In an official statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to “geographical features whose sovereignty has not been granted to Greece through international treaties” — language that directly echoes the so-called “gray zones” theory in the Aegean.
Read also: Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign joint defense agreement including a NATO-style “Article 5” clause: “An armed attack on one is an attack on all”
Ankara: Unilateral actions should be avoided in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas such as the Aegean and the Mediterranean
Ankara stressed that the provisions of the Greek spatial plan “will have no legal consequences for Turkey” and argued that Greece is attempting to exploit issues such as environmental protection for political purposes.
Turkey further warned against “unilateral actions in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas” such as the Aegean, stating that such actions “should be avoided.” The statement concluded: “Turkey maintains its position that a sincere and comprehensive approach must be adopted to resolve issues on the basis of international law, equity, and good neighborliness.”
The full statement from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads as follows:
“The Special Spatial Framework for Tourism announced today (August 7) by Greece, which also covers the Aegean Sea, will have no legal consequences for Turkey within the context of the interrelated Aegean issues between the two countries, including certain geographical features whose sovereignty was not transferred to Greece through international treaties.
In this context, we once again emphasize that efforts to instrumentalize universal values — such as environmental protection — for political purposes are futile and will in no way affect Turkey’s long-standing legal position.
Unilateral actions should be avoided in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas such as the Aegean and the Mediterranean. International maritime law encourages cooperation among coastal states in such seas, including on environmental matters. In this regard, we reiterate that Turkey, as one of the two Aegean coastal states, remains ready to cooperate with Greece.
Within the framework of the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighbourliness of December 7, 2023, Turkey maintains its position that a sincere and comprehensive approach must be adopted to resolve issues on the basis of international law, equity, and good neighborliness.”
Yunanistan Tarafından İlan Edilen Turizm Özel Mekansal Çerçevesi Hakkında:
Yunanistan tarafından bugün (7 Ağustos) Ege Denizi’ni de kapsayacak şekilde ilan edilen Turizm Özel Mekansal Çerçevesi, aidiyeti uluslararası antlaşmalarla Yunanistan’a devredilmemiş coğrafi formasyonlar…
— Öncü Keçeli | Dışişleri Bakanlığı Sözcüsü (@oncukeceli) August 7, 2026
