Ankara is “tightening the noose”: Turkish NAVTEX is actually blocking the Aegean Sea for two years

Ankara by using two NAVTEX notifications actually “blocks” Aegean Sea for the next two years, forming an extremely tense geopolitical background.

Turkish NAVTEX have been published on the eve of the expected meeting prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoganwhich, although not yet officially appointed, is tentatively planned for first half of February.

Notices have been issued Izmir and Antalya stations at a time when Greece – both through the Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritisand through the Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias – re-emphasizes his legal and inalienable right to expand territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in accordance with UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The first Turkish NAVTEX is in the nature of a “general reminder” and concerns the publication of navigation messages “covering Turkish continental shelf in the Aegean Seathe boundaries of which, according to Ankara, have yet to be determined by the coastal states.”

The document emphasizes that all research papers in the area of ​​Turkish jurisdiction must be carried out in coordination with Turkish authorities.

The second NAVTEX contains list of Greek islands by namewhich Türkiye considers to be under a “permanent demilitarization” regime. Among them: Thassos, Agios Efstratios, Psara, Samothrace, Lemnos, Lesbos, Chios, Ikaria, Samos, Astypalaia, Rhodes, Halki, Karpathos, Kasos, Tilos, Nisyros, Kalymnos, Leros, Patmos, Lipsi, Symi, Kosand also Kastellorizo ​​archipelago.

Ankara refers to London Conference 1914, Treaty of Lausanne 1923 And Treaty of Paris 1947claiming that military activity in the territorial waters of these islands is prohibited.

The document also notes that “some stations” – without directly mentioning Greece or its Hydrographic Service — periodically publish notifications about military exercises in these areas, which, according to Ankara, poses a threat to shipping and violates international agreements.

It is highly likely that NAVTEX data is preliminary designation of requirementswhich the Turkish side intends to put forward in negotiations with the Greek Prime Minister.

Myself Kyriakos Mitsotakis previously emphasized that the only issues to be discussed with Turkey are exclusive economic zone (EEZ) And continental shelf.

Thus, while Greece insists on exercising its legal rightsTürkiye actually demands their reduction.

An additional concern is closeness of relationship between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the US President Donald Trump.

A few days ago, the US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle called on Greece and Turkey for dialogue “on all differences,” saying that together with the American ambassador in Ankara Tom Barrack they are ready to help “resolve all issues.”

However Greece does not make territorial or legal claims to Turkeywhile all revisionist claims come exclusively from Ankara.

In diplomatic negotiations, as a rule, the principle applies middle compromise. If one side doesn’t require anythingand concessions are expected from her, the result is loss of existing rights.

Turkish NAVTEX published today form political-strategic climate the coming weeks.

The author’s opinion may not coincide with the editor’s point of view.

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