Nicosia, January 14, 2026 (Greek City Times) — Turkey signals renewed aggressive energy exploration in…
Tag: EEZ
Turkey is racing to lock in a maritime deal with Syria’s new HTS-led government to counter growing isolation in the Eastern Mediterranean—but Damascus’s need for US backing may spoil Ankara’s plans.
Greece Reaffirms That Delimitation of EEZ and Continental Shelf Is the “One and Only” Dispute…
Libya’s parliament has strongly condemned Greece’s demand to cancel the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime boundary agreement, calling it a violation of national sovereignty, while the EU continues to reject the pact as incompatible with international law.
Greek Foreign Ministry rejects Turkey’s objections to the updated Greek Maritime Spatial Planning map, stating that Ankara’s reactions lack any legal basis under EU and international law.
Turkey has strongly condemned Greece’s updated marine spatial planning map, calling it a unilateral violation of international law that encroaches on Turkish maritime jurisdiction in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
The American intervention to activate the Cyprus-Lebanon maritime Exclusive Economic Zone agreement creates new realities…
Greece is resuming a €2 billion energy project with Israel to lay submarine cables through the Eastern Mediterranean, prompting concerns from Turkey. With enhanced military measures, including naval escorts and drone surveillance, Athens aims to push forward despite potential regional tensions.
Greece has described Egypt’s diplomatic response to its recent maritime spatial planning initiative as “expected,”…
Greece has formally rebuffed Libya’s maritime claims to the UN, rejecting attempts to define a median line that encroaches on Greek waters south of Crete, and urging dialogue based on international law.
Libyan coast guard officers have begun training in Crete as part of a Greek-led initiative to curb rising migrant flows from North Africa. The program, which includes patrol and rescue operations, reflects efforts to strengthen ties between Greece and both Libyan administrations amid ongoing regional tensions.
In a SKAI interview, Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis rejected mediators in Turkey disputes, barred Turkey from the EU’s SAFE program over its “casus belli,” and invited Libya to negotiate maritime boundaries. He outlined strict migration policies, confirmed an undersea cable project, and addressed OPEKEPE subsidy reforms, signaling a proactive stance on national interests.
Libya, guided by Turkey, submitted a Note Verbale to the UN on May 27, 2025, claiming continental shelf boundaries up to Crete based on the 2019 Turkey-Libya MoU. The move challenges Greece’s and Egypt’s maritime rights, declaring their EEZ agreements and exploration activities illegal, escalating tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Libya has formally protested Greece’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claim south of Crete, published in the EU’s Official Journal on June 12, 2025, alleging a breach of its maritime sovereignty. Tripoli submitted a counter-map to the UN, calling Greece’s move unilateral and baseless. Greece dismissed the objection, citing the invalidity of the Turkey-Libya memorandum under international maritime law, and plans a formal UN response.
Libya has filed a UN protest against Greece’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) south of Crete, claiming it violates its maritime rights. Tripoli’s objection, based on the Turkey-Libya memorandum, disputes Greece’s authority to grant hydrocarbon exploration rights. Greece rejects the protest, calling the memorandum invalid, and will respond via the UN.
On the fifth anniversary of the Greece-Italy EEZ agreement, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias celebrated the historic deal that extended Greece’s territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Ionian Sea. “We made Greece larger,” Dendias declared, highlighting the resolution of a 45-year issue and Greece’s commitment to international law and UNCLOS.
Greece and Turkey were on the brink of a major breakthrough in resolving long-standing maritime…
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, speaking on Symi, affirmed islands’ full maritime rights under international law, citing UNCLOS and the Greece-Egypt EEZ agreement, while outlining Agenda 2030 and praising increased defense donations.
Turkey has escalated tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, threatening action if Cyprus drills in Block 5, which Ankara claims as part of its continental shelf. Cyprus issued a NAVTEX for drilling in its EEZ, while Turkey’s Defense Ministry vowed to counter any violations.
Athens, Greece, March 26, 2025 — Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis swiftly welcomed Wednesday’s news…
Greece and Cyprus are on high alert amid reports that Turkey is negotiating a maritime boundary agreement with Syria, raising concerns about a renewed push by Ankara to claim disputed areas of the Eastern Mediterranean. This potential deal, viewed as a violation of international law by Greece and Cyprus, echoes Turkey’s past attempts to assert control over the region’s resources and maritime boundaries, threatening regional stability.
Greece has condemned Turkey’s proposed maritime deal with Syria, labeling it illegitimate. Athens argues that…
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed skepticism about the potential for progress in Greece-Turkey disputes over the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. Addressing criticisms, Mitsotakis reaffirmed Greece’s firm stance and criticized attempts to portray his administration as less patriotic. He highlighted recent developments in Greek-Turkish relations and urged caution in interpreting Turkey’s regional influence. Additionally, he defended Europe’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict and emphasized the need for collective security in response to shifting dynamics.
Turkey threatens to disrupt surveys for the planned Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnector, escalating tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. The project’s expansion into disputed waters raises concerns about potential Turkish interference, echoing a previous standoff involving a survey vessel.
Diplomatic sources revealed details of a recent meeting between Greek and Turkish officials, highlighting Greece’s firm rejection of Turkey’s characterization of a “Turkish minority” in Greece. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan raised the issue during discussions on Thursday, but Greek representatives reiterated their position that the Treaty of Lausanne recognizes a Muslim minority, not a Turkish one. The meeting also covered the Cyprus issue and the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, but no agreement was reached.
In a recent interview, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that Turkey’s disputes with Greece encompass more than just maritime boundaries, including issues like the demilitarization of Greek islands. He called for discussions on the multiple challenges facing the Aegean, while Greece maintains that sovereignty questions remain non-negotiable.
Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers will meet in Athens on November 8th to address long-standing bilateral issues, including the contentious demarcation of an exclusive economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean. This meeting comes amidst a cautious thaw in relations between the NATO allies, whose history is fraught with tension.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias celebrated the 81st anniversary of Kastellorizo’s liberation on Friday, highlighting the small island’s outsized importance to Greece’s maritime sovereignty… Dendias stressed that Kastellorizo plays a ‘crucial role’ in defining Greece’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.”
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis notes that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip…
Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, speaking at the 81st anniversary of Megisti Island’s liberation, emphasized Kastellorizo’s crucial role in Greece’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). He reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to defending its maritime rights under international law, rejecting any opposing claims. Dendias also highlighted how Greece’s EEZ agreement with Egypt strengthens national and European interests.
