Türkiye Slams Greece’s Marine Spatial Plan as Unilateral Move

Tensions between Türkiye and Greece reignited this week after Athens announced its official Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) strategy, designating marine zones for future development and conservation. Ankara sharply criticized the move, claiming it infringes on Türkiye’s maritime jurisdiction in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, calling the plan “unilateral” and legally baseless.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry responded on Wednesday, emphasizing that Greece’s MSP holds no legal bearing over Turkish maritime rights. “We would like to underline that such unilateral declarations contradict international maritime law, which instead promotes collaboration among neighboring coastal states,” the ministry said.

Türkiye reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue, referencing the Athens Declaration of December 2023, which aimed to foster good neighborly relations. “Any attempts at fait accompli will be null in our eyes. Türkiye remains ready to cooperate, but within the bounds of international law and mutual respect,” the ministry added.

Greece’s Position: Legal Rights Under International Law

The Greek Foreign Ministry, in turn, defended its plan as a holistic spatial strategy that supports a blue and circular economy. It stressed that the MSP was in line with EU laws and should not be misinterpreted as ending dialogue with Türkiye. However, it insisted that “dialogue does not equate to concessions.”

What’s at Stake? Maritime Jurisdiction and Resource Control

While Türkiye and Greece have shown willingness to normalize relations, disputes over maritime boundaries remain a flashpoint, especially in areas suspected of containing energy reserves. Türkiye, which has the longest continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean, rejects Greece’s claims based on island territories, arguing they ignore Türkiye’s sovereign rights and those of Turkish Cypriots.

An earlier flashpoint occurred in 2024 when Greece announced plans to build marine parks in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, prompting Türkiye to accuse Athens of using environmentalism for geopolitical gain.

Türkiye’s Strategic Response: Academic MSP Mapping and “Blue Homeland” Vision

Türkiye has ramped up its efforts to finalize its own Marine Spatial Planning. The National Research Center for Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) has published a preliminary academic map outlining scientific, economic, and military zones beyond Türkiye’s territorial waters.

According to DEHUKAM, Türkiye’s MSP efforts aim to:

• Maximize sustainable maritime resource use

• Assess environmental impacts

• Strengthen economic potential

• Support marine biodiversity and national security

The MSP also aligns with EU marine governance models, even though Türkiye is not an EU member state.

An Inter-Institutional Coordination Committee, led by the presidency and coordinated by the Foreign Ministry, will oversee the strategy’s implementation across public agencies.

TRNC Joins the Maritime Planning Effort

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is also said to be working on its own MSP strategy to bolster maritime claims in coordination with Türkiye’s broader “Blue Homeland” doctrine.

The Broader Significance of MSP

DEHUKAM CEO Mustafa Başkara told Anadolu Agency that seas are no longer just natural borders, but critical economic zones. “With growing pressure on marine ecosystems, spatial planning is vital for sustainability,” Başkara stated. He added that Türkiye’s MSP is designed around ecosystem-based governance, mirroring international models while safeguarding national interests.

The Türkiye MSP Platform—developed by DEHUKAM—offers detailed data, project maps, and legal analyses to promote transparency, multi-stakeholder cooperation, and policy planning.

While still an academic study, the DEHUKAM map reflects a vision of coordinated maritime governance, integrating environmental, economic, and geopolitical priorities.