Turkey issued a maritime navigation warning (NAVTEX) on Friday, October 16, asserting jurisdiction over an area east of Crete where a multinational military exercise is scheduled to take place and where surveys for the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection project are expected to resume.
The Turkish notice followed a NAVTEX issued Thursday by the Heraklion station of the Hellenic Navy’s Hydrographic Service for the Eunomia 2026 military exercise, involving Greece, France, Italy and Cyprus.
The Antalya NAVTEX station repeated the coordinates contained in the Greek notice, stating that the designated area falls within its jurisdiction.
The overlapping notices reflect continuing disagreements between Athens and Ankara over maritime responsibilities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Dispute Over Maritime Jurisdiction
The area designated for Eunomia 2026 largely overlaps with waters where marine surveys are expected to resume for the Great Sea Interconnector, a European-backed project intended to establish an electricity connection between Crete and Cyprus.
Turkey’s latest NAVTEX concerns the authority to issue maritime warnings in the area, rather than a direct prohibition on the military exercise or the planned cable surveys.
Ankara has previously asserted maritime claims in parts of the Eastern Mediterranean that overlap with areas claimed by Greece and Cyprus.
These competing positions have generated disagreements over maritime boundaries, jurisdiction and activities related to energy infrastructure.
The Turkish notice was issued shortly before the multinational exercise, which includes live-fire activities east of Crete.
Surveys for Great Sea Interconnector
Preparations are underway for the resumption of marine surveys associated with the Great Sea Interconnector, which is designed to connect the electricity grids of Greece and Cyprus through a submarine power cable.
The French vessel Abeille Marengo is expected to undertake survey operations in preparation for the installation of high-voltage direct-current submarine cables.
According to the relevant request submitted to the Hellenic Coast Guard headquarters, the planned operations will take place within national territorial waters.
A separate NAVTEX is expected to be issued in connection with the survey activities.
The Great Sea Interconnector is intended to end Cyprus’ electricity isolation from the European mainland by establishing a direct connection to the Greek electricity network.
The latest exchange of maritime notices comes as preparations continue for the project’s next phase, with Greece and Turkey maintaining different positions on jurisdiction in parts of the Eastern Mediterranean.
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