Greece has rejected Turkish objections to its new renewable energy spatial planning scheme, declaring that Greek sovereignty in the Aegean Sea is clearly defined by international treaties and is not open to challenge.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement describing claims made by Turkey as unfounded, baseless, unacceptable, and rejectable. Officials in Athens emphasized that the sovereignty regime across the Aegean Sea remains completely clear under international law.
Athens noted that Ankara had repeated the same unfounded assertions twice within twelve days, following a similar Turkish reaction to Greece's spatial framework for tourism. The ministry said this repetition demonstrates an obsession with revisionist positions that carry no legal basis.
Greece reiterated its commitment to dialogue and good neighborly relations with Turkey. The foreign ministry stated that Greece remains focused on resolving its sole bilateral dispute with Ankara, which is the demarcation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone in accordance with international law.
Turkish claims over Aegean energy plan
The response from Athens followed statements from Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Öncü Keçeli, who claimed that the Greek energy plan announced on 19 August produces no legal consequences for Turkey.
Keçeli argued that the scheme, which extends into the Aegean Sea, cannot create legal effects within the context of interconnected Aegean disputes between the two nations. He specifically cited geographic formations whose sovereignty he claimed has not been transferred to Greece through international treaties.
Turkey urged against unilateral actions in closed or semi-closed seas such as the Aegean and the Mediterranean. Ankara cited international maritime law, arguing that such legal frameworks encourage cooperation among coastal states.
Coastal state cooperation and diplomacy
Keçeli stated that Turkey is one of two coastal states in the Aegean Sea and expressed readiness to cooperate with Greece.
Ankara reiterated its stance in favor of a sincere and comprehensive approach to resolving bilateral problems based on equity, international law, and good neighborly relations. The Turkish spokesperson referenced the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good-Neighbourliness, which the two countries signed on 7 December 2023.
Greece and Turkey, both NATO members in Southeastern Europe, have long faced tensions over maritime boundaries, territorial waters, and airspace in the Aegean Sea. The Special Spatial Framework for Renewable Energy Sources is a national planning scheme designed to regulate offshore wind and clean energy projects across Greek territory and marine zones.
