Image Credits: Crisis Group
The longstanding maritime border dispute between Turkey and Greece has reignited following the deployment of an Italian-flagged cable-laying ship near the Turkish continental shelf. The Turkish Defense Ministry reported on Thursday that the vessel was warned on July 22 to avoid Turkish waters, prompting the dispatch of Turkish naval ships to monitor the situation.
In June, Türkiye issued two navigational telexes (Navtex) regarding the operations of the Italian-registered C/S Teliri, which was laying cables under an agreement involving Egypt, Israel, the Greek Cypriot administration, and Greece. The designated area of operation lies within a contested region between the islands of Rhodes and Crete. Despite the Turkish Navtex, the Greek Cypriots had earlier issued their telex, leading to a counter-Navtex from Turkey, which labelled the Greek Cypriot telex as illegitimate and unauthorized.
Turkish media outlets reported multiple attempts by Greece and Greek Cypriots to infringe on the Turkish continental shelf, all of which were thwarted by Turkish military and diplomatic efforts. The C/S Teliri was ultimately allowed to operate within specified coordinates before being escorted out of the Turkish continental shelf by Turkish naval forces.
Türkiye, which boasts the longest continental coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, has consistently rejected Greece’s and the Greek Cypriot administration’s maritime boundary claims, asserting that these claims violate the sovereign rights of both Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriots. The international community largely does not recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
The dispute intensified this spring when Greece announced plans to establish two marine parks in the Aegean and Ionian Seas by 2024, despite Turkish objections. Ankara accused Athens of leveraging environmental concerns for geopolitical gains, a claim Greece’s Foreign Ministry denied, accusing Turkey of politicizing environmental issues.
Despite ongoing tensions, Turkey and Greece have made efforts to normalize relations, marked by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Athens and subsequent meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Both sides announced initiatives to improve bilateral ties, including visa facilitation for Turkish citizens and a reduction in irregular migrant flows to Greece.
However, recent inflammatory remarks by Greek officials regarding Cyprus have threatened the fragile rapprochement. Greek Defense Minister’s comments branding Turkey as an “invader” and threats from the Greek Health Minister to dispatch fighter jets have provoked strong reactions from Turkish officials. President Erdoğan urged the Greek Prime Minister to control his defence minister, while Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler downplayed the threats and invited the Greek Health Minister to Turkey as a tourist.
Erdoğan reiterated Turkey’s vigilance over Greece’s actions and expressed a continued commitment to improving relations, despite the complex and deep-rooted nature of the disputes.