Türkiye practices landing amid Aegean Sea dispute

Türkiye conducts large-scale exercises EFES-2026 and is preparing a law on maritime zones that could intensify the dispute with Greece in the Aegean Sea.

Türkiye simultaneously conducts large-scale landing exercises EFES-2026 off the coast Izmir and is preparing a bill on maritime zones related to the doctrine “Blue Motherland”. For Athens this does not look like isolated episodes, but like a connected demonstration of force and legal pressure in Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.

? EFES 2026’DA KARADA DENİZDE HAVADA TÜM ATEŞ GÜCÜNÜN ALTINDA MKE İMZASI!

5.56 mm’den 203 mm’ye uzanan geniş mühimmat yelpazemiz, Millî Piyade Tüfeklerimizden obüslere kadar farklı silah ve platform çözümlerimizle Mehmetçiğin uzattığı her namluda taşıdığımız ustalık izimizle… pic.twitter.com/niEB446pT7

— Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (@MKEgovtr) May 15, 2026

The crux of the matter

• Türkiye conducts major military exercises EFES-2026the final phase of which must be completed May 21.
• More than 10,000 military personnel from dozens of countries, including forces from the East and West Libya.
• Parallel Ankara is preparing a bill on maritime zones, which should consolidate Turkish claims in Aegean SeaMediterranean and Black Seas.
• IN Greece such steps are perceived as an attempt to create a legal and military basis for putting pressure on Greek and Cypriot positions on maritime zones.

Exercises EFES-2026 started in April and take place in the western part Turkeymainly in the area Izmir. According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, cited by Mezhathey involve more than 10,000 military personnel from 50 countries. The final phase is scheduled for May 21, 2026.

The exercise program includes live-fire operations, airborne operations, amphibious landings, urban operations, drone operations, special operations, overcoming engineering obstacles and demonstrations of new weapons. According to the Turkish side, within EFES-2026 Dozens of new weapons and equipment systems are being demonstrated for the first time.

Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri’nin EFES-2026 Tatbikatı kapsamında İzmir’de düzenlenen Mayın Avlama Harekatı’nda denizde mayın imha edildi.

daha az pic.twitter.com/2QAzmi6r9v

— Eyüp Karakoç (@EyupK5198) May 15, 2026

For Greece It is the airborne component of the exercise that is particularly sensitive. EFES traditionally held in the area facing the islands of the eastern part Aegean Seaand in the Greek expert community such maneuvers are perceived not as an abstract training, but as a demonstration of capabilities directly related to the island theater of operations. Well, yes, when your neighbor regularly practices landing opposite your islands, it’s hard to perceive it as a race walking festival.

Libyan factor

Participation in EFES-2026 strength from Libya. According to Defense News and Turkish Daily Sabahparticipate in the exercises 331 military personnel from eastern Libya and 177 from western Libya, as well as a speedboat Shafak.

The Turkish side presents this as a diplomatic success and a step towards the idea “united Libya”. However for Athens The Libyan direction has long had a much more specific meaning: namely through the Turkish-Libyan memorandum 2019 Ankara tried to consolidate its version of the delimitation of maritime zones in the Eastern Mediterranean, effectively ignoring the rights of the Greek islands, including Crete.

Yerli ve milli hücumbotu “Karayel” EFES-2026 tatbikatında ilk kez kullanıldı.

▫️Karayel, yüksek hareket kabiliyeti, süratli intikal yeteneği, ani manevra kapasitesi, yüksek dalga mukavemeti ve kısmi balistik koruma özellikleri sunuyor.
▫️Hücumbotları, denizde saatte 60 knot… pic.twitter.com/bzECIKhvfB

— Pars Plus (@Pars_Pluss) May 15, 2026

Therefore, the participation of Libyan forces in Turkish exercises looks not only a military, but also a political signal. Ankara shows that it continues to work with the Libyan direction as an instrument of its Eastern Mediterranean strategy.

Maritime Zones Bill

In parallel with the exercises Türkiye is preparing a bill related to maritime jurisdictions. According to Kathimeriniruling party AKP prepares a document related to the doctrine “Blue Motherland”to “legally consolidate the rights and interests of Turkey” V Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea And Aegean Sea. The bill, according to sources, may be introduced into parliament after religious holidays ending May 31.

? the EFES 2026 exercise in Izmir .. την άσκηση EFES 2026 στη Σμύρνη pic.twitter.com/HeaBOphcuG

— Emiraa Air – Sea Defense (@DenizEmiraa) May 15, 2026

T-129 ATAK – Efes 2026

Kaynak: Selçuk Taşgın@SelimAtalay08 @kemankes2121 @decepticon46 @rmalpsoy @MuratKayanda09 @burakozcan3330 @mustafa97250804 @Fakir14904262 @Claire_Redemr @Dromercay @Alper7310321 @Pars071014 pic.twitter.com/upKXVCXLHd

— kaan_fox3✈️ ?? (@kaan_fox3) May 15, 2026

As he writes Turkish Minutethe project provides for fixing Turkey’s territorial waters at the level 12 nautical miles in the Black and Mediterranean Seas and 6 nautical miles in the Aegean Sea. It is in the Aegean Sea Ankara has long opposed the possible expansion of Greek territorial waters to 12 miles, threatening to treat such a move as a casus belli.

MoD | DefMin: Άσκηση EFES 2026 στη Σμύρνη #Efes2026 pic.twitter.com/RCiVVIso51

— Emiraa Air – Sea Defense (@DenizEmiraa) May 15, 2026

The bill would also create a legal framework for Turkish claims to the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (AOD), including the requirement of Turkish permission for economic, scientific and environmental activities in areas that Ankara considers it to be its maritime jurisdiction.

Why does this worry Athens?

According to Al-Monitora new Turkish bill could increase tensions with Greece And Cyprussince it actually creates an internal legal basis for actions in disputed maritime areas. We are talking not only about energy, but also about fisheries, scientific research, drilling, marine parks and control over economic activities.

Greek media draw attention to the fact that Erdogan may receive expanded powers to manage maritime zones, which Türkiye will be considered subject to its jurisdiction. Proto Theme notes that the issue of the so-called “maritime areas with special status”which the President of Turkey will be able to declare in zones where the AOD has not yet been declared.

It is this uncertainty that makes the initiative dangerous. If internal Turkish law begins to apply to areas where Greece, Cyprus And Türkiye have opposing positions, then any step – a scientific vessel, drilling activity, fishing control, creation of a marine park – can become a reason for conflict.

Essentially Ankara is trying to translate its geopolitical doctrine into legal language. And this is no longer just rhetoric for an internal audience. It is a tool that can be used in practice – at sea, with ships, NAVTEX, coast guard, military vessels and diplomatic notes. The paper, as usual, looks peaceful until the moment when a frigate appears behind it.

Risk of a warm episode

It is premature to talk about an inevitable military clash. But the combination of two processes – large landing activity Turkey and the preparation of a law on maritime jurisdictions – objectively increases the risk of an incident in Aegean Sea or Eastern Mediterranean.

Particularly sensitive areas remain around the islands of the eastern Aegean Sea, maritime zones south and southeast of Creteas well as areas associated with submarine cables, energy projects, exploration and possible hydrocarbon resources. This is where Greek, Cypriot and Turkish ideas about maritime rights intersect.

Recent episodes of Turkish radio warnings to Greek or Greek-licensed vessels show that Ankara is already using gradual pressure tactics. First a claim of jurisdiction, then NAVTEX, then the presence of a warship or boat, then a diplomatic dispute. Such a scheme does not necessarily lead to war, but constantly creates the risk of error, nervous reaction or collision on the spot.

Editorial comment

Türkiye acts on two levels at once: trains strength and formalizes claims legally. For Greece This is not a reason to panic, but a serious signal. The more active Ankara turns “Blue Homeland” into laws, doctrines and maritime practice, the higher the risk of an incident that will begin as a dispute over papers and end with ships on the contact line.

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