President Erdogan addresses the organization of Turkic states and proposes new maritime legislation

During an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Turkistan, Kazakhstan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Erdogan met with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhurman, and urged member states to deepen political, economic, and cultural ties with the occupied territory. In parallel, reports indicate that the ruling AKP party is preparing legislation to authorize the declaration of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending up to 200 nautical miles from Turkey's coastline. This proposed law would grant the President powers to oversee fishing, mining, and drilling activities, including in contested waters of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. While the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea permits EEZs, Turkey has not ratified the treaty and disputes the maritime claims of Greece and Cyprus. Turkish authorities argue that the continental shelf should be measured from the mainland rather than through island-based maritime zones. The move is viewed as a strategic challenge to existing Greek and Cypriot sovereignty claims in gas-rich maritime regions.