Greece plans to expand its territorial waters and establish a second marine park in the Aegean Sea, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said Friday in Parliament.
Responding to a question from a group of independent MPs, Gerapetritis highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen Greece’s maritime sovereignty, citing the creation of the first Aegean marine park, the completion of the country’s marine spatial planning (MSP) framework, and agreements with Egypt and Italy on maritime zones.
“You accuse us of timidity and of taking our allies for granted? Which government has even done one of the things I just mentioned?” he said.
He criticized Turkey’s longstanding claims under the expansionist Blue Homeland doctrine as “unacceptable,” but said Greece now has stronger legal and diplomatic arguments than ever, supported by European Union standards.
“Where were we in 2019, and where are we today? Greece now has arguments it never had on the table before,” he said.
Gerapetritis emphasized that dialogue with Turkey would continue but insisted that national sovereignty is nonnegotiable. “We are not just equal partners today. We are in a position of real strength because this government faced global realities with a plan,” he said, noting recent defense upgrades, including the arrival Thursday of the Hellenic Navy’s first FDI-class frigate, Kimon (F-601).
“It is important that we all stand together in celebrating national achievements. Above government positions, there are national successes,” he added.