Greece Locks In Aegean Exercise Zones As Turkey Protests

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Greece and Turkey have escalated a dispute over military exercise zones in the Aegean, issuing competing aviation notices as Athens challenges Ankara’s attempt to reserve large areas for military exercises.

The latest dispute began after Turkey issued NOTAM A3788/26, unilaterally designating five extensive areas in the central Aegean for military exercises from September 25 to October 27, 2026.

The Turkish zones extend along the 25th meridian and, according to the Greek account, at several points touch or enter the area Greece considers its national airspace extending 10 nautical miles from its coastline.

Greece issues its own exercise zones

Greece responded on two fronts, issuing a counter-NOTAM that challenged Turkey’s authority to issue the directive within the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR).

Athens also issued NOTAM A3595/26, designating two large areas for Greek air and naval exercises from October 12 to October 20.

The designated Greek zones overlap the northern section of the areas identified by Turkey. Greek authorities therefore effectively challenged Ankara’s planned exercise areas with their own military activity zones.

Turkey declares Greek NOTAM null and void

Turkey responded with NOTAM A4388/26, claiming that Greece should modify the boundaries of its designated areas because they overlap with Turkish military exercise zones in international airspace.

After Greece rejected the request, Turkey declared the Greek NOTAM “null and void” and maintained that its own directive remains in force.

The move adds another layer to the longstanding dispute between Athens and Ankara over airspace responsibilities and jurisdiction in the Aegean.

Athens rejects Turkey’s jurisdictional claims

Greek military and diplomatic sources cited by Ta Nea argue that Turkey has no legal basis for challenging Greece’s authority to issue NOTAMs within the Athens FIR.

Under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules, Greece manages air traffic within the Athens FIR and issues aviation information for that area.

Athens therefore views Turkey’s attempt to challenge Greek NOTAMs west of the FIR boundary as a direct dispute over the exercise of aviation responsibilities.

Greek authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.

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