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A Turkish state television news outlet has warned of a possible naval confrontation involving Greek and French vessels in the waters between Crete, Rhodes and Cyprus, linking the prospect to plans to resume work on the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), the electricity cable project connecting Cyprus with Greece.
TRT Haber Savunma, the defence news section of TRT Haber, published a social media post claiming that Ankara had issued a NAVTEX in response to Greek activity in the area. The post was accompanied by footage of Turkish military exercises and language suggesting that the Turkish navy was prepared to confront foreign vessels.
Savaşsa savaş: Ankara NAVTEX yayınladı! Türk donanması Fransız ve Yunan gemilerini bekliyor olacak. ▪️Kiryakos Miçotakis yönetimi, Türkiye'nin Mavi Vatan'daki egemenliğini test etmek için yeni bir deneme daha yapıyor. ▪️Güney Kıbrıs'a uzanacak elektrik iletim kablo projesini oldubittiye getirmek isteyen Atina, Mavi Vatan sınırları içinde NAVTEX yayınlattı. ▪️Ankara buna karşı bir NAVTEX'le cevap verdi. Atina geri adım atmazsa savaş gemileri Girit-Rodos-Kıbrıs üçgeninin orta yerinde buluşacak. TÜRK ORDUSUNUN MESAJLARI HENÜZ ALGILANMAMIŞ GÖRÜNÜYOR ↘️ https://t.co/5NJhrrBONv
— TRHaber Savunma (@savunma_trhaber) October 16, 2026
The broadcaster accused the government of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of attempting to challenge Turkish sovereignty in what Ankara calls the “Blue Homeland”, a term Turkey uses to describe its maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean.
According to the post, Athens had issued a NAVTEX in connection with the electricity transmission cable project extending from Crete to Cyprus. The Turkish broadcaster characterised the planned works as an attempt to advance the project within waters it considers part of its claimed maritime jurisdiction.
It said Ankara had responded by issuing a counter-NAVTEX and warned that, unless Greece backed down, warships could meet in the sea between Crete, Rhodes and Cyprus. The post concluded by suggesting that the Turkish military's warnings had not yet been heeded.
The statements come as preparations for the resumption of work on the GSI project bring renewed attention to the competing maritime claims of Greece and Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean.
The interconnector is designed to link the electricity grids of Cyprus and Greece through Crete, providing Cyprus with a connection to the European electricity network. Its planned route has been a source of tension between Athens and Ankara, with Turkey contesting activities in maritime areas where it asserts jurisdiction.
TRT Haber Savunma presented the dispute as a challenge to Turkey's claimed sovereignty, referring to the Republic of Cyprus as “Southern Cyprus”. The broadcaster's description reflects Ankara's political terminology and does not constitute an independent determination of maritime sovereignty.
The post's suggestion that warships could confront one another is a warning issued by the Turkish broadcaster, rather than confirmation that a naval clash has been scheduled or will take place. The available information does not independently establish the precise operational details of the NAVTEX notices or whether the vessels mentioned will be deployed to the area.
