Greece is considering extending its territorial waters south and west of Crete to 12 nautical miles, according to journalist Christina Korai who made the revelation to Nikos Evaggelato during his show Live News on MEGA TV.
Greece and Egypt have currently agreed on a partial EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). "Egypt currently has an issue regarding the east of Crete," Korai noted.
Government sources point out that "things with Turkey are not simple at all", with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias stating that Greece will use every available means.
Asked whether Greece's allies will be informed of the 12 miles extension, Korai said the government response is that there is no need to inform anyone as this is a unilateral action Greece is entitled to, and once presidential decrees are prepared, they will be submitted directly to the United Nations.
The news comes more than a year after Greece expanded its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Ionian Sea.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has affirmed that the expansion of Greece's territorial waters to 12 nautical miles is an inalienable right as confirmed by the United Nations Charter Law of the Sea.
Turkey is one of the very few countries that has not signed and/or ratified UNCLOS. The majority of non-signatories are landlocked countries.
Turkey has declared that unilateral expansion of Greece's territorial water to 12 miles in the Aegean would be a cause for war (casus belli) and sees the move as an infringement of its sovereignty.
