Christodoulides warns of regional implications
President Nikos Christodoulides has called for a unified European response in the event of illegal actions by Turkey under the so-called “Blue Homeland” doctrine.
He stressed that such developments would affect Cyprus, Greece and other European countries, as well as the United States, due to broader geopolitical and maritime interests.
EU coordination urged
Christodoulides said he had recently discussed the issue with the Greek Prime Minister in Athens and with other European leaders, noting that developments are being closely monitored.
He expressed hope that Turkey will refrain from illegal actions, but warned that any such move would require a coordinated European response.
He added that Cyprus and Greece have already taken preventive diplomatic steps in this direction.
Link to wider regional tensions
The President noted that the issue is linked to wider geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and is being considered under international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
He also said the situation affects ongoing efforts by the UN Secretary-General on the Cyprus issue, describing recent developments as “not positive” during a sensitive phase of negotiations.
What is the “Blue Homeland” doctrine?
The “Blue Homeland” is a Turkish maritime doctrine that promotes expanded claims over exclusive economic zones in the Black Sea, Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. First introduced in 2006 and later gaining political prominence after the 2016 coup attempt, it is linked to Turkey’s broader push for strategic autonomy. The doctrine rejects the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which Turkey has not signed, and asserts control over approximately 462,000 km² of maritime territory.
Since 2019, it has been implemented through agreements such as a maritime memorandum with Libya and annual naval exercises. These developments have drawn criticism from Greece, Cyprus, the European Union and NATO, which view the policy as challenging established maritime law and escalating regional tensions over security and energy resources.
In the same year, Turkish naval officials stated their readiness to defend the claimed maritime area, while some international analysts have described the doctrine as reflecting neo-Ottoman or neo-imperial ambitions.
Source: CNA
Also read: Israeli forces intercept Gaza aid flotilla in international waters near Cyprus
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