Athens has drawn a hard line against Ankara, stating plainly that Turkey cannot manufacture legal rights by publishing its own maps or issuing unilateral declarations.
The warning came from New Democracy spokesperson Alexandra Sdoukou, who told ERTnews that Greece will reject any Turkish attempts to claim authority beyond what international law permits. Her remarks arrive as tensions between the two neighbors continue to simmer over maritime boundaries and competing territorial ambitions.
Turkey’s recent designation of two “national marine parks” holds zero legal weight, Sdoukou argued. Those areas extend beyond Turkish territorial waters and overlap with international waters and Greece’s continental shelf, she explained. A country cannot simply grant itself rights through domestic paperwork.
“The declaration of Turkish ‘national marine parks’ in areas beyond Turkish territorial waters produces no legal effect and cannot create faits accomplis,” Sdoukou said.
Meanwhile, Greece has pursued its own maritime planning through proper legal channels and in accordance with international law. Sdoukou pointed to a pattern of Greek initiatives that likely irritated Ankara: EU-backed marine parks, energy deals, maritime spatial planning, and exclusive economic zone agreements.
Defence upgrades and stronger alliances have also reshaped Greece’s standing. Sdoukou cited partnerships with Egypt, Israel, the United States, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and France. Greece now wields considerable international influence, she said, which has clearly provoked a reaction from Turkey.
She pivoted to domestic concerns as well. On wildfires, Sdoukou rejected both complacency and political point-scoring. Greece ranked sixth in burned area across Europe this year, behind Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, and Turkey. But that comparison offers no excuse to declare victory.
The Salamina fire illustrated how quickly conditions can turn. Reported at 2:43 p.m., the blaze had already changed dramatically by 2:50 p.m. Firefighting crews still managed to bring it under control within hours.
Sdoukou highlighted the Antinero forest management programme, expanded emergency alert systems, more aerial resources, drones for early detection, and a fire service that grew from roughly 13,000 to over 18,000 personnel.
Looking toward the Thessaloniki International Fair, the government plans to unveil permanent measures effective in 2027 alongside a broader “Greece of 2030” economic strategy aimed at investment, job creation, and further tax relief.
