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Turkish Media Reacts Angrily to Gerapetritis' Statements on Aegean Sea

Published January 17, 2026, 12:10
Turkish Media Reacts Angrily to Gerapetritis' Statements on Aegean Sea

The Turkish media is reacting strongly to statements made by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis regarding the possible extension of Greek territorial waters in the Aegean Sea. The Sözcü newspaper characterizes the statements as a “provocation” and “casus belli,” warning of the risk of a military crisis. It points out that Turkey has long considered the extension of territorial waters a reason for war. The MyNet website presents Gerapetritis' statements as a direct attack and a revival of an issue that Turkey considers critical to its national security. It emphasizes that Greece is seeking to expand its sovereignty in the Aegean through the creation of marine parks. The Milliyet newspaper reports that Turkey will extend its own territorial waters, while MyNet stresses that Ankara considers Gerapetritis' statements a “casus belli.” The Turkish media links the statements to the broader tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, including issues of the continental shelf and alliances in the region. Gerapetritis had stated that Greece has strong arguments for exercising its sovereign rights, while criticizing Turkey's “Blue Homeland” doctrine. The Turkish media presents these statements as evidence of Greek aggression and an attempt to impose the Greek view on the Aegean.