Greece reaffirms right to 12-nautical-mile territorial waters

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has reaffirmed that Greece maintains the right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, describing the option as remaining “in our quiver.” While noting that communication channels with Türkiye remain open, Gerapetritis emphasized that dialogue does not imply a retreat from Athens’ established maritime positions.

Regarding the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection project, the Foreign Minister rejected calls to reroute the cable to avoid Turkish-designated marine parks. He stated the planned route does not pass through these areas and lies “dozens of miles south” of them.

New Democracy MP and international law professor Angelos Syrigos noted that Greece previously halted seabed surveys for the interconnection project in 2024 following interventions by Turkish warships. Syrigos indicated that the period of Greek retreats has ended, asserting that Athens will now proceed with its planning while insisting on its sovereign rights.