Cem Gurdeniz

By George Gilson

The originator of the "Blue Motherland" theory, which claims for Turkey huge swathes of Greek maritime zones in the Aegean and the Mediterranean and their hydrocarbons deposits, has lambasted the recent Greece-France mutual defence pact.

A tanker passes through the Bosporus in Istanbul. Photo: Pixabay/Sinasi Müldür

The international convention, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has suggested it might quit, governs the use of the Turkish Straits - the Dardanelles and Bosporus, strategic waterways that connect the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

The detention period of 10 retired admirals as part of an investigation into a declaration in support of the Montreux Convention has been extended for four more days.

'The Blue Homeland naval drill shows Turkey has become a maritime power,' says a retired admiral. 'It is also a manifestation toward the enlarging blocks against Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean,' adds Cem Gürdeniz, who is the father of the name 'Blue Homeland.'

Amid tension over hydrocarbon-related activity in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), retired Rear Admiral Cem Gurdeniz has warned the governments in Nicosia and Athens that their actions are "testing Turkey's patience."

"They believe that if Turkey backs down on this one, it will also back down on other issues," Gurdeniz was quoted as telling Turkey's Milliyet newspaper.