Turkey’s Marine Park Decrees Fuel Aegean and Mediterranean Tensions

The Turkish government issued presidential decrees in mid-August establishing two marine parks beyond its recognized territorial waters. One zone sits in the northeastern Aegean between Lemnos and Samothrace, while the second encompasses waters surrounding the Greek island of Kastellorizo. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, states lack the authority to unilaterally create such zones in high seas or areas under another nation’s jurisdiction. Experts argue these moves hold no legal weight, yet they signal a strategic pivot toward enforcing the "Blue Homeland" doctrine.

At the heart of this maneuver is the Great Sea Interconnector project. By labeling the cable’s planned route as a protected area, Ankara seeks to force maritime operators to request permission for seabed surveys, effectively asserting control over disputed zones. This strategy mirrors broader efforts to disrupt energy initiatives that exclude Turkey, while simultaneously positioning the nation as a regional power broker. While Athens maintains a policy of upholding international law, the emergence of these zones—combined with a sharp rise in airspace violations—has forced Greece to accelerate its own defense initiatives, including the development of the Achilles Shield air defense network and closer military alignment with Israel and the UAE.