Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has reaffirmed that Greece retains the sovereign and unilateral right to expand its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, describing the issue as a core matter of national sovereignty under international law.
Speaking in an interview with OPEN TV, Dendias said Greece remains open to dialogue with Turkey, provided discussions take place strictly within the framework of international law and without pressure or threats.
He stressed that Greece is not weak and will not negotiate under coercion, adding that any decision to extend territorial waters would be based on an assessment of national interest. Dendias also rejected Turkey’s long-standing casus belli, declared by the Turkish parliament in 1995 in response to a potential Greek expansion, stating that it cannot form the basis of dialogue between the two countries.
The Defence Minister’s comments followed accusations from Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party, whose deputy leader and defence spokesperson, Yanki Bahcioglu, claimed that Greece is violating international law.
Bahcioglu said Turkey’s position on territorial waters has remained official state policy since 1995, warning that references to a possible expansion in the Aegean undermine good neighbourly relations and threaten Turkey’s sovereign rights.
