Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis reaffirmed Greece’s intent to expand its territorial waters and establish a second marine park in the Aegean Sea during a parliamentary session on Friday. The announcement comes despite Turkey’s longstanding position that any Greek expansion in the Aegean constitutes a casus belli (an act of war).
“Extension of territorial waters [in the Aegean Sea] will come, as marine parks and spatial planning,” Gerapetritis said on Friday.
Currently, Greece’s territorial waters are characterized by a “dual limit” depending on the geographical region. While international law allows for a maximum of 12 nautical miles (n.m.), Greece only exercises this right in specific areas due to the complex geopolitical tensions in the Aegean. In January 2021, Greece officially extended its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea from 6 to 12 nautical miles.
Responding to criticism from independent MPs regarding the government’s diplomatic stance, Gerapetritis defended the administration’s record on maritime sovereignty. He cited several key milestones:
- The creation of the first Aegean marine park.
- The finalization of Greece’s Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework.
- Historic maritime zone agreements with Italy and Egypt.
“You accuse us of timidity? Which previous government has achieved even one of these milestones?” Gerapetritis asked, challenging his critics.
Countering the “Blue Homeland” doctrine
Gerapetritis denounced Turkey’s “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) doctrine—a strategic concept claiming vast swaths of the Mediterranean—as “unacceptable.” However, he argued that Greece’s position has never been stronger, bolstered by a combination of European Union standards and international law.
“Where was Greece in 2019, and where are we today?” he remarked. “Greece now possesses legal and diplomatic arguments that were never on the table before.”
A policy of “principled strength”
While emphasizing that dialogue with Ankara remains open, the Foreign Minister insisted that national sovereignty is non-negotiable. He attributed Greece’s “position of real strength” to a long-term plan that includes significant defense upgrades.
A symbolic moment of this strength occurred just this Thursday with the arrival of the Kimon (F-601), the Hellenic Navy’s first FDI-class Belharra frigate. The state-of-the-art vessel is a cornerstone of Greece’s modernized naval strategy.
“It is essential that we stand united in celebrating these national achievements,” Gerapetritis concluded. “Beyond political affiliations, these are successes for the nation.”
Related: What If Greece Extends Its Territorial Waters to 12 Miles in the Aegean?
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