Greek forces were placed on high alert in the maritime region southwest of Kastellorizo following the departure of the Turkish scientific research vessel R/V TÜBİTAK MARMARA from the port of Marmaris today. A Coast Guard vessel, in direct coordination with Hellenic Navy units, assumed a discreet shadowing role, closely monitoring every move of the Turkish ship from a safe distance. This new flashpoint erupted with the issuance of the illegal directive NAVTEX 0862/26 by the unauthorized station of Antalya, through which Turkey attempted to reserve an extensive portion of the maritime area south of Kastellorizo until September 15, 2026. The response from Athens was already delivered on the evening of August 31, before the Turkish research vessel even left the coast of Marmaris.
According to official data, the Heraklion hydrographic station of the Hydrographic Service of the Hellenic Navy issued anti-NAVTEX 1036/26 (312050 UTC AUG 26). The message clarifies that the Antalya station acted without any authorization, explicitly emphasizing that part of the announced research overlaps the Greek continental shelf, where special permission from Greece is required. At the same time, the Greek side recalled that the coordination of navigation and the issuance of safety notices in this specific zone belong to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Heraklion station, rendering the Turkish NAVTEX illegal and void.
What the vessel's track shows
The AIS system data captures working behavior rather than simple transit. Within a few hours, the speed of the R/V TÜBİTAK MARMARA dropped from cruising pace to nearly zero and rose again—the classic cycle of an oceanographic vessel stopping for measurements and moving to the next station. The sequence of 9.5 → 0.8 → 9.3 knots during the same morning is the classic cycle of an oceanographic ship that stops for measurements and then moves to the next station. When a research vessel lowers instruments into the water column—for example, deploying a CTD for temperature and salinity—it must stop or slow down to nearly zero. A ship merely passing through does not drop to 0.8 knots in the middle of the open sea without a reason.
Ankara's strategy and the "marine parks"
Turkey's move is not an isolated one, but forms part of Ankara's strategy to project unilateral claims regarding Turkish "marine parks," attempting to appropriate an administrative and environmental role in areas of Greek interest. The Greek side reiterated that navigation coordination and safety directive issuance in this specific zone belong exclusively to the Heraklion station, rendering the Turkish NAVTEX illegal and void.
"Achilles' Shield": Intense concern in Turkey over the Greece–Israel defense axis
Reactions in the Turkish press are fierce regarding the agreement between Greece and Israel for the development of the multi-layered air defense system "Achilles' Shield," valued at approximately 3 billion euros. Employing particularly aggressive rhetoric, Turkish media outlets portray the deal as a move that reinforces the Athens–Tel Aviv defense axis and, according to their own assessments, is directed against Turkey.
The newspaper Türkiye features the front-page headline "A Zionist shield for Greece – The evil alliance continues," claiming that the new defense cooperation could increase tension in the Aegean. The article speaks of an air defense deal worth roughly 3 billion euros, characterizing it as a new move by the Athens–Tel Aviv axis. In the same newspaper, an opinion piece is titled "You cannot compete!" The columnist claims that Greece and Israel are continuing their "provocations" against Turkey, presenting "Achilles' Shield" as part of broader defense cooperation. Moving along the same lines, Hürriyet focuses in an opinion piece titled "A move against Turkey" on Greece's choice to cooperate with Israel rather than European companies for the development of the new air defense system.
The publication links the deal to efforts by Athens and Tel Aviv to support their mutual axis in the Eastern Mediterranean at a time when, it claims, Turkey is registering significant progress in its defense industry. The approach of Yeni Şafak is even harsher, reporting "Greece surrenders to Israel" and claiming that the two countries have entered a "dangerous game" against Turkey. The common denominator across the coverage is the assessment that "Achilles' Shield" is not merely an agreement to bolster Greek air defense, but is integrated into a broader geopolitical and defensive alignment between Greece and Israel, which the Turkish press views with intense suspicion.
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