Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias on Monday took to X to commemorate a milestone decision, taken four years ago on the day, to expand territorial waters in the Ionian Sea from six nautical miles to 12, with the issue of maritime regions and jurisdiction deemed as almost existential for the country due to Turkish belligerence and threats in the Aegean.
The expansion was ratified by Parliament in January 2021 when Dendias tabled the legislation in Parliament as the then foreign minister. The expansion of territorial waters to 12 nautical miles is based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which Greece has signed and follows, similar to every other EU member-state.
Turkey, conversely, a proverbial EU candidate, has neither signed or adheres to UNCLOS, at least in the Aegean Sea.
In citing Athens’ observance to international and customary law, Dendias also reminded that Greece also delimitated its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Ionian Sea with Italy as based on UNCLOS.
Πριν από 4 χρόνια η Ελλάδα μεγάλωσε, για πρώτη φορά από το 1947, με την επέκταση των χωρικών της υδάτων στο Ιόνιο Πέλαγος, από τα 6 στα 12 ναυτικά μίλια.
Με την Κύρωση του Νόμου που είχα την τιμή να εισηγηθώ στη Βουλή των Ελλήνων και υπερψηφίστηκε με συντριπτική πλειοψηφία, η… pic.twitter.com/G5TA1FTcIM
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) January 20, 2025