Türkiye conducts large-scale exercises EFES-2026 and is preparing a instrumentality connected maritime zones that could intensify the quality with Greece successful the Aegean Sea.
Türkiye simultaneously conducts large-scale landing exercises EFES-2026 disconnected the seashore Izmir and is preparing a measure connected maritime zones related to the doctrine “Blue Motherland”. For Athens this does not look similar isolated episodes, but similar a connected objection of unit and ineligible unit successful Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.
? EFES 2026’DA KARADA DENİZDE HAVADA TÜM ATEŞ GÜCÜNÜN ALTINDA MKE İMZASI!
5.56 mm’den 203 mm’ye uzanan geniş mühimmat yelpazemiz, Millî Piyade Tüfeklerimizden obüslere kadar farklı silah ve level çözümlerimizle Mehmetçiğin uzattığı her namluda taşıdığımız ustalık izimizle… pic.twitter.com/niEB446pT7
— Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (@MKEgovtr) May 15, 2026
The crux of the matter
- Türkiye conducts large subject exercises EFES-2026the last signifier of which indispensable beryllium completed May 21.
- More than 10,000 subject personnel from dozens of countries, including forces from the East and West Libya.
- Parallel Ankara is preparing a measure connected maritime zones, which should consolidate Turkish claims successful Aegean SeaMediterranean and Black Seas.
- IN Greece such steps are perceived arsenic an effort to make a ineligible and subject ground for putting unit connected Greek and Cypriot positions connected maritime zones.
Exercises EFES-2026 started successful April and take spot successful the western portion Turkeymainly successful the country Izmir. According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, cited by Mezhathey impact much than 10,000 subject personnel from 50 countries. The last signifier is scheduled for May 21, 2026.
The workout programme includes live-fire operations, airborne operations, amphibious landings, municipality operations, drone operations, special operations, overcoming engineering obstacles and demonstrations of caller weapons. According to the Turkish side, within EFES-2026 Dozens of caller weapons and instrumentality systems are being demonstrated for the archetypal time.
Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri’nin EFES-2026 Tatbikatı kapsamında İzmir’de düzenlenen Mayın Avlama Harekatı’nda denizde mayın imha edildi.
daha az pic.twitter.com/2QAzmi6r9v
— Eyüp Karakoç (@EyupK5198) May 15, 2026
For Greece It is the airborne constituent of the workout that is peculiarly sensitive. EFES traditionally held successful the country facing the islands of the eastbound portion Aegean Seaand successful the Greek adept assemblage such maneuvers are perceived not arsenic an abstract training, but arsenic a objection of capabilities straight related to the land theater of operations. Well, yes, when your neighbour regularly practices landing other your islands, it’s hard to comprehend it arsenic a contention walking festival.
Libyan factor
Participation successful EFES-2026 strength from Libya. According to Defense News and Turkish Daily Sabahparticipate successful the exercises 331 subject personnel from eastbound Libya and 177 from western Libya, arsenic well arsenic a speedboat Shafak.
The Turkish broadside presents this arsenic a diplomatic success and a step towards the thought “united Libya”. However for Athens The Libyan absorption has agelong had a overmuch much specific meaning: namely done the Turkish-Libyan memorandum 2019 Ankara tried to consolidate its version of the delimitation of maritime zones successful the Eastern Mediterranean, efficaciously ignoring the rights of the Greek islands, including Crete.
Yerli ve milli hücumbotu “Karayel” EFES-2026 tatbikatında ilk kez kullanıldı.
▫️Karayel, yüksek hareket kabiliyeti, süratli intikal yeteneği, ani manevra kapasitesi, yüksek dalga mukavemeti ve kısmi balistik koruma özellikleri sunuyor.
▫️Hücumbotları, denizde saatte 60 knot… pic.twitter.com/bzECIKhvfB
— Pars Plus (@Pars_Pluss) May 15, 2026
Therefore, the information of Libyan forces successful Turkish exercises looks not lone a military, but besides a governmental signal. Ankara shows that it continues to work with the Libyan absorption arsenic an instrumentality of its Eastern Mediterranean strategy.
Maritime Zones Bill
In parallel with the exercises Türkiye is preparing a measure related to maritime jurisdictions. According to Kathimeriniruling enactment AKP prepares a papers related to the doctrine “Blue Motherland”to “legally consolidate the rights and interests of Turkey” V Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea And Aegean Sea. The bill, according to sources, whitethorn beryllium introduced into parliament aft spiritual holidays ending May 31.
? the EFES 2026 workout successful Izmir .. την άσκηση EFES 2026 στη Σμύρνη pic.twitter.com/HeaBOphcuG
— Emiraa Air – Sea Defense (@DenizEmiraa) May 15, 2026
T-129 ATAK – Efes 2026
Kaynak: Selçuk Taşgın@SelimAtalay08 @kemankes2121 @decepticon46 @rmalpsoy @MuratKayanda09 @burakozcan3330 @mustafa97250804 @Fakir14904262 @Claire_Redemr @Dromercay @Alper7310321 @Pars071014 pic.twitter.com/upKXVCXLHd
— kaan_fox3✈️ ?? (@kaan_fox3) May 15, 2026
As helium writes Turkish Minutethe task provides for fixing Turkey’s territorial waters astatine the level 12 nautical miles successful the Black and Mediterranean Seas and 6 nautical miles successful the Aegean Sea. It is successful the Aegean Sea Ankara has agelong opposed the imaginable enlargement of Greek territorial waters to 12 miles, threatening to treat such a determination arsenic a casus belli.
MoD | DefMin: Άσκηση EFES 2026 στη Σμύρνη #Efes2026 pic.twitter.com/RCiVVIso51
— Emiraa Air – Sea Defense (@DenizEmiraa) May 15, 2026
The measure would besides make a ineligible model for Turkish claims to the continental support and exclusive economical zone (AOD), including the request of Turkish support for economic, technological and biology activities successful areas that Ankara considers it to beryllium its maritime jurisdiction.
Why does this worry Athens?
According to Al-Monitora caller Turkish measure could summation tensions with Greece And Cyprussince it really creates an interior ineligible ground for actions successful disputed maritime areas. We are talking not lone astir energy, but besides astir fisheries, technological research, drilling, marine parks and power implicit economical activities.
Greek media gully attraction to the information that Erdogan whitethorn person expanded powers to negociate maritime zones, which Türkiye will beryllium considered subject to its jurisdiction. Proto Theme notes that the contented of the so-called “maritime areas with special status”which the President of Turkey will beryllium capable to state successful zones where the AOD has not yet been declared.
It is this uncertainty that makes the inaugural dangerous. If interior Turkish instrumentality begins to use to areas where Greece, Cyprus And Türkiye person opposing positions, then immoderate step – a technological vessel, drilling activity, sportfishing control, instauration of a marine parkland – tin go a crushed for conflict.
Essentially Ankara is trying to translate its geopolitical doctrine into ineligible language. And this is nary longer conscionable rhetoric for an interior audience. It is simply a tool that tin beryllium used successful signifier – astatine sea, with ships, NAVTEX, seashore guard, subject vessels and diplomatic notes. The paper, arsenic usual, looks peaceful until the infinitesimal when a frigate appears down it.
Risk of a warm episode
It is premature to talk astir an inevitable subject clash. But the operation of two processes – ample landing enactment Turkey and the mentation of a instrumentality connected maritime jurisdictions – objectively increases the hazard of an incidental successful Aegean Sea oregon Eastern Mediterranean.
Particularly delicate areas stay astir the islands of the eastbound Aegean Sea, maritime zones south and southeast of Creteas well arsenic areas associated with submarine cables, vigor projects, exploration and imaginable hydrocarbon resources. This is where Greek, Cypriot and Turkish ideas astir maritime rights intersect.
Recent episodes of Turkish vigor warnings to Greek oregon Greek-licensed vessels amusement that Ankara is already utilizing gradual unit tactics. First a assertion of jurisdiction, then NAVTEX, then the beingness of a warship oregon boat, then a diplomatic dispute. Such a strategy does not needfully pb to war, but perpetually creates the hazard of error, tense absorption oregon collision connected the spot.
Editorial comment
Türkiye acts connected two levels astatine once: trains strength and formalizes claims legally. For Greece This is not a crushed to panic, but a superior signal. The much progressive Ankara turns “Blue Homeland” into laws, doctrines and maritime practice, the higher the hazard of an incidental that will statesman arsenic a quality implicit papers and extremity with ships connected the interaction line.
Greek (GR) · 
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