Shortly after Greece’s Armed Forces carried out a surprise readiness exercise, Turkey issued a response. The hydrographic station in Izmir released a NAVTEX on Wednesday, reiterating Ankara’s demand for the demilitarization of 23 Greek islands.

The notice specifically named several Greek islands, including, among others, Thasos, Limnos, Lesvos, Chios, Ikaria, Samos, Astypalaia, Rhodes, Chalki, Karpathos, Kasos, Kalymnos, Patmos, Leipsoi, Symi, Kos, and Kastellorizo.

At the same time, Greek defense officials emphasized that the exercise was unrelated to the research vessel Piri Reis and was intended solely to test the readiness of the country’s armed forces.

In its NAVTEX, Turkey argued that the islands listed are subject to permanent demilitarization under the 1914 London Conference decision, the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, and the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty. Ankara said military activities in the territorial waters of these islands are therefore prohibited.

The advisory warned that certain navigational warnings have, at times, announced military activities in waters around these islands, which Turkey claimed could endanger maritime safety and violate international agreements. Mariners were urged to exercise caution.