Turkey pushes to enact ‘Blue Homeland’ law, formalising maritime claims in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean

Turkey’s government is preparing a draft law that would codify its "Blue Homeland" (Mavi Vatan) doctrine, extending Turkish claims over the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. According to Turkish media, the Grand National Assembly is slated to vote on the bill in June 2026. The legislation would give domestic legal backing for naval, coast‑guard and energy activities, including issuing licences for hydrocarbon exploration and setting up a navigation warning system.

Greek officials and legal experts warn that a unilateral Turkish law does not alter international law or affect Greece’s sovereign rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Turkey has not ratified. The move is seen as both an attempt to solidify Turkey’s maritime posture and a domestic political tool for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ahead of upcoming elections, reinforcing nationalist sentiment.

The proposed law could heighten diplomatic tensions between Ankara and Athens, raising the risk of confrontations over disputed waters and islands in the region.