Turkey announces new marine parks in Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean

On August 15, 2026, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed presidential decrees establishing two national marine parks in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey describes these areas as initiatives for environmental protection and biodiversity, yet the move is widely viewed as a challenge to Greek sovereign rights and the concept of the Blue Homeland.

The first park is situated in the Northern Aegean, spanning the maritime area between the Greek islands of Lemnos and Samothrace. The second, larger park covers a significant portion of the Eastern Mediterranean, effectively encircling the Greek island of Kastellorizo and severing its maritime connection to Rhodes. These decrees follow persistent reports in Turkish media concerning alleged Greek military activity near the island of Ro.

The development appears to be a direct response to Greece's own plans to establish marine parks in these contested regions. By formalizing these zones, Turkey aims to assert its influence over areas where continental shelves remain undelimited between the two nations, setting the stage for increased diplomatic tension.