Greece plans to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea, despite Turkey's opposition. Tensions between the two countries persist.

The Greek Foreign Minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, announced on Friday that Greece will continue to expand its territorial waters, including in the Aegean Sea, despite threats from Turkey. The two NATO member countries have had historical tensions, and the dispute focuses on the delimitation of the continental shelf in the Aegean Sea, an area with significant energy potential. Greece has already expanded its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea and signed a maritime delimitation agreement with Egypt, but has avoided expansion in the Aegean Sea due to Turkey's opposition. Ankara declared in 1995 that such an expansion would constitute a cause for war.

Gerapetritis emphasized that Greece will also extend its maritime sovereignty, without specifying the targeted areas. Greece has also announced plans for marine parks in the Aegean Sea, which has generated objections from Turkey. Athens claims it is only open to discussions regarding the delimitation of maritime areas.