Türkiye claims parts of Evros: Greece continues to build border fence

There is a new issue in relations between Greece and Turkey. territorial dispute: Ankara sent an official diplomatic protest to Athens over the continuation of construction of a border fence along the Evros River.

The Turkish side claims that certain sections of the structure are being built on territory that Ankara considers its own.

According to Kathimerinithe protest was transmitted through diplomatic channels and concerns several areas in the central part of Evros.

The dispute is about five kilometers

The main section of the new border fence is approximately 35 kilometers Construction began in 2023 and was completed at the beginning of 2025.

However, at least seven places of work then remained unfinished.

We are talking mainly about plots in the region Souffles and Didimoticho with a total length of approximately 5 kilometers.

This is where the divergence between Athens and Ankara arose.

According to Greek military maps, the disputed areas are located on Greek territory. Türkiye, on the contrary, considers them part of its territory.

Greece does not stop construction

Despite Ankara’s diplomatic protest, construction of the fence continues.

According to Greek sources, Athens considers existing cartographic and military documentation sufficient to confirm the passage of the state border.

Therefore, at this stage, the Greek side does not consider the Turkish protest as a basis for stopping work.

Why does the Evros border create difficulties?

The peculiarity of the Greek-Turkish land border is that for a considerable distance it runs along the Evros River.

The river bed changes over time, new sediments, islands and land areas are formed. However, the international boundary is not determined by the current position of the water at a particular moment, but by a legally established line.

That is why different cartographic interpretations can no longer acquire a technical, but a political nature.

The fence has become a strategic project

Greece began actively strengthening the border on Evros after the migration crisis of February-March 2020, when thousands of migrants tried to cross the Greek-Turkish border.

Since then, Athens has repeatedly stated its intention to gradually extend the physical barrier to most of its land border with Turkey.

In parallel, cameras, thermal imaging equipment, drones and surveillance systems are used.

For the Greek government, the fence has long become not only an element of migration policy, but also national security infrastructure.

A new episode against the backdrop of deteriorating relations

The dispute over Evros comes at a time when differences between Athens and Ankara are again accumulating on a range of issues.

In recent weeks, Türkiye has already opposed Greek plans in the Aegean Sea, including issues of maritime spatial planning and the creation of energy infrastructure.

“Athens News” talked about this in detail in the material “Green energy and old gray areas: Athens rejects Turkey’s new claims”.

Almost simultaneously, Ankara presented its own marine parks, the boundaries of which Athens considers to extend beyond Turkish jurisdiction. We wrote about this in the publication “Türkiye has drawn marine parks outside its waters”.

Herapetritis: no concessions on sovereignty issues

Against this background, the statement by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, made on September 2 after an informal meeting of the heads of the EU foreign ministers, is indicative.

“There is no room for compromise on our sovereignty and our sovereign rights.”

IN official statement of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gerapetritis stressed that Athens stands for a peaceful resolution of differences and compliance with international law, but does not intend to discuss concessions on issues of sovereignty.

At the end of August, the head of the Foreign Ministry warned that the policy of “calm waters” with Turkey does not mean a abandonment of national positions. “Athens News” talked about this in the material “Athens warned Ankara: if necessary, Greece will use frigates and F-16s”.

Now the dispute concerns the land border itself

Until now, much of the most bitter Greek-Turkish disputes in recent years have centered around the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas – territorial waters, continental shelf, airspace and sovereignty over islands.

The current protest over Evros is different in that it already affects not maritime zones, but directly the line of the land state border.

For now, both sides are acting at the diplomatic level, and construction work continues.

However, the emergence of another controversial issue shows how quickly relations between Greece and Turkey can move from a policy of “calm waters” to a new period of mutual claims.

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