Türkiye is ramping up efforts to expand marine conservation initiatives in the Aegean and surrounding seas, amid growing concern that Greece’s expected announcement of new marine protected areas could have geopolitical implications, Turkish diplomatic sources said.
Ankara is closely monitoring Athens’ plan to declare marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean Seas by the end of June, warning that such unilateral moves under the pretext of environmental protection could impact disputed maritime zones in the Aegean.
“Preventive measures are being reviewed against possible unilateral steps,” a diplomatic source told Anadolu Agency, adding that Türkiye supports sustainable marine management, but believes ecological initiatives must not be used to shift the status quo in contested waters.
The two NATO allies remain at odds over a wide range of maritime issues, including continental shelves, territorial waters, airspace and sovereignty over demilitarized islands. While the tone of bilateral ties has improved in recent months, Ankara accuses Athens of using environmental policy to gain diplomatic leverage.
In a statement last year, the Turkish Foreign Ministry warned that Greece was “abusing environmental issues to internationalize bilateral problems,” despite a recent trend toward normalization.
Legal framework and international positioning
Türkiye, which signed the U.N.’s landmark Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement in 2024, says its commitment to marine biodiversity is genuine and ongoing. The domestic ratification process of the treaty is underway.
Ankara is also implementing its own Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework, launched in April, with the goal of managing Turkish marine zones in a balanced and sustainable way. Türkiye has submitted the plan for registration with the United Nations.
Deputy Environment Minister Fatma Varank is leading Türkiye’s delegation to the U.N. Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where Ankara is expected to reiterate its stance on marine conservation and maritime rights.
Greece presses ahead
Speaking at the same conference, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reaffirmed his government’s pledge to designate new marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean Seas before the end of June, as announced during the 2024 “Our Ocean” conference in Athens.
The proposed parks are expected to ban deep-sea trawling and strengthen fishing regulations. However, Türkiye sees the initiative as a potential tool for altering maritime jurisdiction under the guise of conservation.
“Environmental norms must not be used to undermine coastal states’ rights or to reshape the balance of power in disputed areas,” a Turkish official said.
Broader maritime strategy
Türkiye’s engagement in marine spatial planning is part of a broader strategy to assert its maritime rights and counter what it sees as encroachment by Greece. Ankara insists that conservation efforts in semi-enclosed seas like the Aegean must be based on cooperation, not unilateral action.
While Türkiye and Greece have taken steps since late 2023 to improve relations, the marine parks issue highlights how even shared environmental goals can inflame long-standing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.