Reports in the Turkish press suggest that Ankara is preparing to sign a Turkey-Syria maritime agreement, in a move that would further consolidate its claims in the Eastern Mediterranean and echo its controversial 2019 pact with Libya.
Pro-government outlets frame the potential deal as a geopolitical “surprise” for Greece, building on the framework of previous maritime agreements that expanded Turkey’s influence in contested waters. According to Türkiye newspaper, technical and diplomatic preparations have already begun for a navigation and maritime jurisdiction agreement with Syria- a move described as protecting not only Turkish national interests but also those of the self-declared “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” the breakaway regime in the island’s illegally occupied north, recognised only by Turkey.”.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan directly rejected claims made by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who had stated that Turkey had promised not to sign a maritime agreement with Syria. “That is not true,” Fidan said, adding that the maritime boundaries between Turkey and Syria- beyond their territorial waters- have not yet been formally defined.
He further stressed that the European Union has no authority to intervene in agreements between two sovereign nations. “The EU is not entitled to have a say in a potential bilateral understanding on maritime zones,” he stated.
Pro-Erdogan daily Yeni Şafak reported that institutional dialogue is underway, and technical groundwork is being laid for defining jurisdiction beyond territorial seas. The move is positioned as part of a broader regional strategy, rooted in Turkey’s 2020 unilateral declaration of its continental shelf boundaries submitted to the United Nations.
Ankara continues to advocate for bilateral negotiations with regional countries based on “fair principles,” but without external interference. According to Yeni Şafak, Turkey seeks to formalise maritime borders through diplomatic engagement “while safeguarding mutual rights and stability.”
The news has raised alarms in Greece and Cyprus, both of which have long challenged Turkey’s unilateral moves and its invocation of the illegal occupation of Cyprus in international legal frameworks.
Also read: Papanastasiou: “Turkey–occupied areas cable is illegal”
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