Dialogos

Turkey Issues Two Declaratory NAVTEX Ahead of Erdogan-Mitsotakis Meeting

Published January 25, 2026, 07:03
Turkey Issues Two Declaratory NAVTEX Ahead of Erdogan-Mitsotakis Meeting

Turkey has issued two declaratory NAVTEX messages shortly before the scheduled meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. These NAVTEX reiterate Turkey's established positions regarding the Aegean Sea, without binding any maritime areas. The first refers to the continental shelf, while the second asserts Turkey's authority to issue permits in half of the Aegean and that 23 Greek islands should remain demilitarized. Turkish media portray the NAVTEX as a demonstration of Turkey's determination and causing concern in Greece, emphasizing that the Aegean is “locked” until 2027. Despite the lack of operational commitments, the NAVTEX are seen as a political and communicative move.