Turkey’s Maritime Disputes Challenge International Law

Turkey’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claims in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas have been a source of ongoing tensions in the region. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal states are entitled to an EEZ extending up to 200 nautical miles from their shores.

However, Turkey has not ratified UNCLOS and takes a different approach.

Turkey argues that islands should not have full rights to maritime zones, including EEZs. This is especially relevant in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, where numerous Greek islands lie close to the Turkish coast. UNCLOS, on the other hand, recognizes islands as having the same rights to EEZs and continental shelves as mainland territory, unless specific geographic features limit them.

Rejecting the EEZs defined by Greece and Cyprus, Turkey has taken unilateral steps to assert its maritime claims. In 2019, it signed a controversial memorandum with Libya that defines maritime borders not recognized under international law, provoking outrage from other countries in the region.

Turkey also considers the Aegean a “semi-enclosed sea” and claims joint management of its resources, disputing the Greek EEZ based on the eastern Aegean islands. Additionally, Ankara does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus or its EEZ, and has sent research and drilling vessels to operate in Cypriot waters.

If UNCLOS were fully implemented, Turkey’s EEZ would likely be determined based on the median line (equidistance principle) in areas where it overlaps with the EEZs of neighboring states. However, Turkey’s maritime claims are often based on its own interpretations and geopolitical calculations, rather than adherence to international law.

Resolving these complex maritime disputes will require bilateral or multilateral negotiations, and may potentially involve referral to the International Court of Justice. Experts argue that Turkey’s unilateral actions and rejection of UNCLOS principles are exacerbating tensions in the region and undermining the established framework of international law.