Ankara’s reaction to Greece’s new Special Spatial Framework for Renewable Energy Sources has sparked a new episode in Greek-Turkish relations, a move that comes just days after Turkey’s announcement of its “offshore parks” in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
More specifically, Turkey reacted yesterday to Greece’s new Special Spatial Planning Framework for Renewable Energy Sources, which entered into force by ministerial decision, with an official statement issued by the spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Onju Ketcheli.
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Among other things, Ketçeli argued that the new Greek spatial framework, which also includes areas of the Aegean, “has no legal implications for Turkey.”
“The Special Spatial Framework for Renewable Energy Sources, which was announced today (August 19) by Greece to cover the Aegean Sea, as with other similar initiatives by Greece, will not have any legal implications for our country in the context of the interrelated Aegean issues between the two countries, including geographical features whose sovereignty has not been transferred to Greece by international treaties,” Ketçeli noted.
At the same time, Ankara argued that unilateral actions should be avoided in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas, such as the Aegean and the Mediterranean. Citing international maritime law, Ankara notes that this encourages cooperation among coastal states.
Athens on Alert
As for Turkey’s new demarcations for “marine parks,” Athens sees more than just a simple marking on the map. Ankara’s move is seen as a reaction to prior initiatives by the Greek side, though the possibility that the matter will move from the maps to the sea should not be underestimated.
For now, the Turkish decrees provide coordinates. They do not include specific terms and restrictions that would indicate exactly how Turkey intends to implement its announcements in practice.
This is also the source of the Greek side’s main reservation. The difficult scenario would be for Ankara to attempt, at a later stage, to give practical substance to its declarations: deploying patrol vessels to the specific areas or reacting when surveys for the Greece–Cyprus undersea cable resume.
This is also considered the most immediate test. The marine parks can, at least at this stage, remain a unilateral mark on the map. As for the cable, however, work at sea will be required.
The diplomatic steps
At the same time, Athens is preparing its diplomatic response. According to reports, Greece’s series of moves is expected to be completed within the next ten days, with a diplomatic note to Turkey and actions at the UN and the European Union.
The aim is to formally and institutionally document Greece’s positions regarding Turkey’s actions in a timely manner, without escalating the confrontation at this stage.
The Concern
Authoritative sources link the Turkish move to recent developments. First came the Greek marine parks and the Marine Spatial Plan. The assessment is that Ankara wanted to respond quickly, setting out its own positions in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The picture, however, is broader. The same sources highlight three developments that have caused particular irritation in Turkey. The first is the strategic cooperation between Greece and Israel, which has taken on even greater significance due to developments in the Middle East.
The second concerns Libya and Athens’ effort to stem Turkish influence and strengthen Greek footholds in the country. The third is also a major priority, as it relates to strengthening the defense of the islands, with the deployment of Patriot missiles on Karpathos at its forefront.
The “vacuum”
Particular attention is also being paid to the geography of Turkish planning. Ankara has selected two areas at the periphery: the northeastern Aegean, in the region of Lemnos and Samothrace, and the Eastern Mediterranean, toward the region of Kastellorizo.
Between them lies a large maritime area outside the scope of current decrees. And this is one of the points being closely monitored. The question is whether the selection of these two extremes exhausts Turkey’s strategy or whether it leaves room for subsequent moves, targeting new areas where Greek island groups are located.
So far, there has been no Turkish announcement foreshadowing such a continuation. The fact, however, that the largest portion of the intervening space remains outside the scope of these actions is a factor that Athens does not overlook.
The Difficult Scenario
The key question is whether Turkey will attempt to give its announcements an operational dimension—for example, by sending ships to patrol the areas it has designated as marine parks.
Such a move would create a different situation, as Athens would no longer be facing merely a Turkish decree but an actual presence on the ground. So far, however, there is no sign of this.
Even the increase in Turkish violations in recent days is being monitored without being assessed as particularly significant compared to what has been recorded during previous periods of tension.
The first test
More immediate is the issue of the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection. The entry of the French company Meridiam gives new momentum to the project and brings back the difficult issue of the marine surveys required for it to move forward.
And that is where one of the next critical points lies. Work on the cable requires the presence of survey ships in areas where Turkey has reacted negatively in the past. The resumption of exploration will show in practice how Ankara intends to proceed.
In fact, there is one significant difference compared to the past: French involvement. With Meridiam on board, a potential Turkish reaction would no longer concern only Greece and Cyprus. The French company’s involvement adds a new geopolitical dimension to the project.
Next Steps
Finally, there is one more move by Ankara that is being watched with interest: the bill on maritime zones. The initial assessment in Athens is that the bill will be relatively low-key and will not include language that would, on its own, trigger a sharp escalation.
That remains to be seen when the text is presented. Attention will focus on whether attempts are made to incorporate elements of the “Blue Homeland” and, above all, whether ground is being laid for future moves.
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SOURCE: Proto Thema
