Turkey Slams Greece’s Extended Border Fence Along Evros River
Turkey has filed a formal protest against Greece over border fence construction along the Evros River, claiming parts are being built on Turkish territory amid disputes over the shifting river course.
The dispute marks a fresh flashpoint in bilateral relations between the two nations, though Greek authorities have pressed ahead with construction work despite the Turkish objections, sources indicate.
Fence Construction Left Incomplete at Multiple Sites
The border fence project in the central Evros region commenced in 2023 and reached completion in early 2025. However, work remained unfinished at no fewer than seven locations spanning the 35-kilometer stretch of the installation.
These sites, concentrated primarily near Soufli with additional points near Didymoteicho, account for approximately 5 kilometers of combined length. Greek military cartography designates these zones as falling within Greek sovereign territory, while Turkish authorities maintain they lie on the Turkish side of the frontier.
Shifting River Course Creates Border Ambiguity
The disagreement originates partly from natural alterations to the course of the Evros River, which constitutes a portion of the Greek-Turkish boundary, generating uncertainty regarding the exact demarcation line.
Police sources revealed that construction was originally suspended at the contested locations for both tactical and diplomatic considerations. One option under review involved deploying a mobile barrier system capable of repositioning if required, rather than establishing a permanent installation with foundations and fixed support posts.
Digital Mapping Reveals Discrepancies
Diplomatic sources disclosed that an additional complication surfaced in 2024 when Greek officials initiated digital mapping of the border zone. Prior to this effort, existing maps had relied on analog surveys conducted in 1926.
A diplomatic source noted that small discrepancies emerged between the analog and digital representations, requiring technical services from both nations to reach consensus on unified mapping standards.
A comparable mapping disagreement between Greece and Turkey had also arisen in 2024, the source confirmed.
Greece Proceeds with Permanent Construction
Approximately five months ago, Greek authorities made the decision to move forward with completing the fence in the disputed sectors based on Greek cartographic data. Construction crews are now employing pile-driving techniques to establish permanent foundations, effectively abandoning the previous proposal for a relocatable barrier system.
This decision triggered the Turkish government’s submission of a formal diplomatic protest, known as a note verbale, delivered through the trilateral contact point maintained by Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing.
With information from Kathimerini (EN)
