Athens responds with an anti-Navtex to Turkey ‘s move to launch investigations in the area south of Kastelorizo . The neighboring country illegally reserved, with a 15-day Navtex issued by the Antalya station, a sea area that it refers to as a “marine park”.
The Greek reaction preceded the mission itself. With a date of issue yesterday, that is, before the Turkish research vessel set sail from the port of Marmaris to move towards the Kastelorizo area, Athens issued Navtex from the Heraklion hydrographic station, underlining that it is the exclusively competent service for licensing relevant research in the area.
The text of the Greek anti-Navtex is simple and institutionally clear. It points out that an unauthorized station issued message number 0862/26 , which concerns scientific research, part of which is not licensed, as one of the designated positions is located above the Greek continental shelf . It also adds that this position falls within the Greek Navtex area of responsibility , where the Heraklion station has exclusive broadcasting authority. The validity of the Greek message is set until September 15.
The legal dimension of the confrontation is not a procedural detail. The exclusivity in Navtex broadcasting within a defined area of responsibility is an internationally recognized regime, and any broadcast by a non-competent station constitutes, according to the Greek reading, a violation of this framework. At the same time, the failure to raise an objection could in international practice be interpreted as tacit tolerance, which explains the speed of the Greek response.
The timing of the Turkish moves is also of particular importance. The presence of the research vessel R/V TÜBİTAK MARMARA and the issuance of Navtex 0862/26 coincide with the signing, by the Greek side, of the “Achilles Shield” , the program for the Hellenic Dome. At the same time, the move is part of the continuation of Turkish allegations about the existence of “marine parks” , which Ankara has unilaterally declared recently.
The pattern, in other words, is familiar. Every Greek move that strengthens the country’s defensive or institutional position is accompanied by a corresponding Turkish action on the ground or on paper, with the aim of keeping the dispute alive. And each time, Athens’ response moves at the same level, that of formal, documented objection.
