Aegean Tensions Escalate Over Search and Rescue Dispute Near Rhodes

22:36 21/12/2024 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Tensions flared once again between Greece and Turkey over jurisdictional claims in the Aegean Sea, following a shipwreck near Rhodes. Greece issued a NAVTEX to coordinate search and rescue (SAR) efforts in its Flight Information Region (FIR) Athens, specifically

within five nautical miles of the site—firmly within Greek territorial waters.

Turkey responded with a NOTAM contesting Greece’s SAR jurisdiction, asserting that the area partially falls within Turkey's declared SAR Region (SRR) as recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Turkey maintained that SAR operations in its SRR must be overseen by Turkish authorities.

Greece vehemently rejected Turkey’s claims through a follow-up NOTAM. Athens underscored that its SAR responsibilities align with its FIR Athens boundaries, which were established during international aeronautical conferences in Istanbul (1950), Paris (1952), and Geneva (1958). 

These agreements were ratified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and endorsed by all participating states, including Turkey. Greek authorities further emphasized that the specified area lies entirely within Greek territorial waters, airspace, and sovereign land under international law.

In its rebuttal, Greece affirmed that the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) Piraeus remains the sole authorized body to manage SAR efforts in the Greek SRR. 

It accused Turkey of misinterpreting international agreements and warned that such actions could undermine the effectiveness of rescue missions, jeopardizing lives in critical situations.

The dispute highlights the broader, long-standing friction between Greece and Turkey over maritime and airspace boundaries, raising concerns about the impact on regional stability and cooperation.

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