In a move that intensifies the already fragile climate in the Eastern Mediterranean , Turkey’s ruling party ( AKP ) is promoting legislation that grants Recep Tayyip Erdogan absolute power to unilaterally declare an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) .
The controversial bill, brought to light by Bloomberg , provides for the assertion of sovereign rights to a depth of 200 nautical miles , blatantly ignoring international legal parameters and the potential zones of neighboring states, such as Greece and Cyprus .
Ankara appears to be attempting to legally shield the “Blue Homeland” doctrine, giving the Turkish President the “green light” to define fishing , mining and drilling zones as he sees fit, while the provision for the establishment of marine parks even in disputed waters is causing a particular sensation, a move that is interpreted as a direct response to the corresponding plans of Athens.
According to sources with knowledge of the issue, this initiative is a clear message that Turkey does not intend to remain on the sidelines of energy developments, aiming to curb the claims of Greece and Cyprus in areas rich in natural gas .
This head-on conflict is based on the diametrically opposed reading of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) , as while the international convention allows for an EEZ of up to 200 miles, it clearly stipulates that in cases of overlap, a bilateral agreement is required.
Turkey, however, remains one of the few global players that has not ratified the Convention , denies islands the right to full influence over maritime zones and argues that the continental shelf should be measured only from the mainland. Furthermore, it limits the rights of states such as Cyprus to 12 nautical miles of territorial waters, while the “ Turkish Republic” of Northern Cyprus – recognized only by Ankara – claims a share of any energy resources discovered in the area.
This move comes at a time when the US is firmly pushing to maintain the communication channel between Athens and Ankara, while the European Union has already warned of sanctions for illegal activities in disputed waters. With the new bill, Erdogan acquires a powerful legislative tool, which turns the “Blue Homeland” theory into a permanent, official state claim with unpredictable consequences for the stability of the Mediterranean.
