Turkish EFES 2026 exercises off Samos: Ankara ups the ante in the Aegean Sea

Türkiye increases pressure in Aegean Sea: exercises EFES-2026maritime zones law, incident with Ocean Link and voltage Imia.

Türkiye in recent days has increased military, legal and operational activity around Aegean Sea. Against the backdrop of a major landing phase of the exercise EFES-2026 off the coast Izmiragainst Samosa, Ankara promotes the bill on maritime zones in the logic of the doctrine “Blue Motherland”and new incidents with Greek ships and fishermen are being recorded in the Aegean Sea.

The crux of the matter

• Türkiye conducts large-scale exercises EFES-2026 in the area Seferihisar at Izmiropposite the eastern part Aegean Sea.
• Parallel Ankara is preparing a bill that should legally consolidate Turkish claims within the framework of the doctrine “Blue Motherland”.
• This week, a Turkish warship tried to stop the ship’s work by radio. Ocean Link between Astypalaia And Scythebut the Greek frigate “Adrias” answered the call.
• U Imia Greek fishermen with Kalymnos stated that the Turkish coast guard threatened them with weapons and forced them to leave the area.

Exercises EFES-2026 started in April and should be completed May 21 major final phase. According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, cited by Mezhathey involve more than 10,000 military personnel from 50 countries. The exercises take place mainly in the area Seferihisar at Izmirthat is, in the zone facing the eastern Aegean Sea.

Scenarios EFES traditionally include amphibious operations, amphibious landings, the use of aircraft, drones, special forces operations, urban operations and live ammunition fires. The Turkish side presents the maneuvers as an international and technologically rich demonstration of the capabilities of the armed forces. For Greece the landing component of such exercises opposite the islands of the eastern Aegean Sea looks much less harmless.

Against this background, the Greek media drew attention to the award ceremony “Green Berets” new Greek fighters special forces on Samosa. Edition Pronews presented this episode as a symbolic response to the concentration of Turkish forces on the opposite bank. Formally, we are talking about a military ceremony, but in the current situation, even such shots are perceived as part of a mutual demonstration of readiness.

“Blue Homeland” becomes law

The military background is reinforced by the legal initiative Ankara. According to Kathimeriniruling party AKP is preparing a bill related to the doctrine “Blue Motherland” (Mavi Vatan), to “legally consolidate the rights and interests of Turkey” V Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea And Aegean Sea.

As he writes Turkish Minutethe project should fix Turkey’s territorial waters at the level 12 nautical miles in the Black and Mediterranean Seas and 6 nautical miles in the Aegean Sea. At the same time Ankara maintains a long-standing position against the expansion of Greek territorial waters in the Aegean Sea to 12 nautical milesthreatening to view such a move as case belli.

The bill would also, according to Greek and Turkish sources, give the Turkish president expanded powers in matters of fishing, research, hydrocarbon extraction, drilling and the creation of marine parks in areas that Türkiye considers areas of its maritime jurisdiction. This is what causes particular concern in Athens: Turkish internal law can become an instrument of pressure in areas where positions Greece, Cyprus And Turkey directly conflict.

The problem is that Türkiye didn’t sign UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and does not recognize its approach to islands’ rights. Greeceon the contrary, assumes that the islands have a right to maritime zones under international law. This is where one of the main nodes of the conflict lies: Ankara is trying to legally formalize his own maximalist interpretation of the sea, and Athens They see this as a direct attempt to circumvent international norms.

Ocean Link: cable as a reason to demonstrate strength

One of the most revealing episodes was the incident with the ship Ocean Link, who carried out work on laying fiber optic cable between Astypalaia And Scythe. According to Kathimerinia Turkish missile boat announced on the radio that the ship was in the area of ​​​​Turkish jurisdiction and demanded that the Turkish NAVTEX.

There was a frigate on site “Adrias” Hellenic Navywhich responded to the Turkish side that the work was being carried out legally. According to To Vima, Ocean Link continued work as usual.

This episode is important because we are not talking about a military operation, but about a technical project for underwater infrastructure. But it is projects like these—cables, energy connections, research, marine parks—that are increasingly becoming pressure points. Ankara effectively sends a signal: even civilian or infrastructure activity in the Aegean could be challenged if Türkiye decides it affects its claims.

Imia: pressure is already at the level of everyday life

At the same time, another alarming episode appeared. According to Ta Nea And To VimaGreek fishermen from Kalymnos stated that they Imia the Turkish coast guard threatened them with weapons and forced them to leave the area.

Imia remains one of the most sensitive symbols of the Greek-Turkish confrontation after the crisis 1996. Therefore, any incident in this area is automatically perceived not as an ordinary dispute between fishermen and the coast guard, but as an element of a policy of gradual “gray zoning” Aegean Sea.

This is precisely the danger of current tactics Ankara. The pressure comes not only through statements and maps, but also through everyday actions: radio calls, threats to fishermen, the presence of boats, military exercises, controversial NAVTEX and attempts to accustom neighbors to the fact that almost nothing should happen in the Aegean Sea without Turkish consent. A very convenient formula: first the disputed zone, then “special status”, then actual control. Bureaucracy with a motor and a machine gun.

The Libyan Factor and the EFES International Showcase

Participation in EFES-2026 foreign forces. According to Defense Newsboth eastern and western forces are participating in the exercises Libya. The Turkish press is presenting this as a diplomatic success Ankara.

For Greece The Libyan direction is particularly sensitive due to the Turkish-Libyan memorandum 2019which Athens considered illegal and disregarding the rights of the Greek islands. Therefore, the participation of Libyan units in Turkish exercises off the coast Izmir is perceived not only as a military, but also as a political signal.

The exercises also, according to Turkish and Greek media reports, involve units from countries friendly Ankaraincluding Azerbaijan, Pakistan and other states. This is a way for Turkey to show that its naval strategy has international support and is not limited to a bilateral dispute with Greece.

The risk of an incident is growing, but war is not predetermined

Formula “hot episode” Today it sounds more and more often, but it must be used carefully. Direct military confrontation between two countries NATO is not an inevitable scenario. However, the combination of major landing activity, a controversial maritime law, incidents with civilian vessels and pressure on fishermen does increase the risk of error.

Situations where it is not diplomats, but crews of ships, boats, fishermen, military and coast guards who act on the spot are especially dangerous. There, decisions are made in minutes, sometimes in seconds. And then politicians spend many days explaining that everything was “under control.” The world has seen this play before, and the ending is usually worse than the press release.

For Athens the dilemma is obvious. On the one hand, it is necessary to remain cool and not give Ankara reason to accuse Greece of escalation. On the other hand, excessive passivity may be perceived by the Turkish side as an invitation to new tests of strength.

That is why the Greek response should not be emotional, but systemic: diplomatic moves, work in EU And NATOincreased presence in sensitive areas, public recording of all incidents and a constant reminder that maritime zones are not determined by the internal laws of one country.

Editorial comment

Türkiye is no longer limited to rhetoric: it simultaneously trains amphibious scenarios, promotes maritime law and puts pressure in practice – from Ocean Link to Imia. For Greece this is a signal: the era of a beautiful formula about “calm waters” ended. What is needed now is not panic or silence, but a cold-blooded, public and tightly coordinated line.

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