Tensions rise as Greece and Turkey report increased military activity in the Aegean

Greek-Turkish relations are experiencing a phase of renewed friction as Ankara has resumed territorial violations in the Aegean. Reports indicate that four incursions by Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles occurred recently, alongside a simulated air engagement between armed Greek and Turkish F-16 fighter jets in the southeastern Aegean. This heightened military activity coincides with ongoing sensitivities regarding the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection project, which is currently viewed as a significant diplomatic and operational test for both nations.

In response to these developments, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated in Thessaloniki that the option to extend territorial waters to 12 nautical miles remains an active policy possibility. The Greek government is also proceeding with the implementation of its Marine Spatial Planning framework for the Aegean and Ionian seas, with related decrees expected to be published shortly. Athens anticipates that these legislative moves may provoke an official reaction from the administration of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while the Greek side continues to monitor whether Turkey will introduce a legislative bill concerning the 'Blue Homeland' doctrine.