Turkey Issues Open Ended Maritime Notice Demanding Coordination from Greece in Aegean Sea

Turkey TR's defence ministry said Ankara has issued a maritime notice pushing Greece GRto coordinate with Ankara on all research activities in parts of the Aegean Sea that Turkeysees as its continental shelf. Turkeyrecently issued a Navtex outlining objections to Greece's activities in the Aegean Sea and demanding it coordinate these activities. In a first, Ankara issued the notice without an expiration date, whereas previous advisories from the sides were temporary.

Ties between the NATO allies have improved in recent years but they remain at odds over where their continental shelves begin and end in the Aegean. The area is described as believed to hold significant energy potential and having implications for overflights and airspace. The move could potentially fuel tensions between the allies as they seek energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean and impact operations by vessels of companies operating in the area. A Navtex is a legal advisory message to mariners.