Turkey launched on Sunday, September 20, the large-scale inter-service military exercise Denizkurdu-I/2026, known as “Sea Wolf”, at a time when rhetoric between Ankara and Athens has once again become harsh, especially on the issues of the Aegean Sea and the status of the Greek islands. According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the exercise will take place until September 25 in the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. It involves about 100 ships, 50 aircraft and 14 thousand personnel from the Turkish Navy, Land Forces, Air Force and Coast Guard.
The program includes operational readiness training, live-fire exercises and high-level scenarios. However, it is a planned exercise and not a sudden mobilization caused by a new crisis with Greece. Also, the figure of 100 ships refers to the total number of assets engaged in all areas where the exercise is taking place and does not mean that all of these ships are deployed in the Aegean Sea. Denizkurdu-I is being conducted within the framework of Ankara's military planning and is also linked in Turkish communications to the "Blue Homeland" doctrine. Another large-scale exercise, Denizkurdu-II, took place in June, with the participation of 125 ships and 60 aircraft.
Fidan toughens rhetoric against Greece
What gives this year’s exercise its political significance is that it is taking place at a time when verbal tensions between the two countries have increased. A few hours before the start of the exercise, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke about the situation in the Aegean and the Greek military presence on the islands of the Eastern Aegean. Fidan stated that the Turkish Armed Forces and Coast Guard are monitoring developments closely and expressed the hope that “no one will take any hasty action.” He also warned that if moves are made that Ankara considers “adventurous,” “the seriousness and strength of this state is known to everyone.” Fidan also reiterated Ankara’s position that some Greek islands should be demilitarized. On September 16, he described the military presence on some of them as a “threat” to Turkey and accused Greece of violating international treaties.
The Turkish statements came after Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Kastellorizo, Ro and Strongyli on September 12 and 13. During the visit to Ro and Strongyli, Mitsotakis visited military posts, while in Kastellorizo he also appeared on a Greek Navy patrol ship. Greece has rejected Turkish claims regarding the demilitarization of the islands. The Greek Foreign Ministry stated on September 16 that Ankara’s repeated claims regarding the demilitarization of the Greek islands “have no legal basis in international law.” Athens argues that the status of the islands is determined by international treaties in force and that Greece has the right to take the measures it deems necessary to protect its territory.
The issue of casus belli also enters this clash, as the Turkish Grand National Assembly has adopted a resolution that considers the expansion of Greek territorial waters in the Aegean to 12 nautical miles as a reason for the use of force. Mitsotakis declared on September 17 that Greece does not seek a “competition of declarations” with Turkey and described the Greek military presence on the islands as a defensive measure. “We do not threaten anyone, but we do not accept that anyone threatens us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis stated on September 19 that for Athens, the issue of the delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone is the only dispute with Turkey that can be subject to international jurisdiction. Thus, Denizkurdu-I/2026 is being conducted as a planned military exercise in several seas, while in parallel the political rhetoric between Ankara and Athens has intensified. So far, there has been no official announcement linking the exercise to any planned military operation or action against Greece.
