Legal analysis of the Eastern Mediterranean exclusive economic zone disputes from the perspective of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Eastern Mediterranean, also referred to as the "Levant Basin", has held significant geopolitical, military and economic importance from ancient times to the present day. Towards the end of the 20th century, the discovery of hydrocarbon resources has further increased the importance of the region. Due to the presence of many coastal states within a relatively small maritime space, contests over delimitation of maritime boundaries have emerged. With adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982, the concept of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) entered into international law. EEZ granted the coastal states the right to declare sovereign rights over maritime zones extending up to 200 nautical miles. This new development has led to numerous maritime boundary disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean. In particular, Greece and Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA) have signed EEZ agreements that violate the principle of equity and completely disregard the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), thereby escalating regional tensions. Several factors, including high number of coastal states surrounding relatively small Eastern Mediterranean, large number of islands in the region and the divided status of Cyprus Island further complicates the search for a solution in the region. This thesis will attempt to examine maritime boundary disputes in the region, -disputes that have repeatedly brought countries to the brink of armed conflict and caused economic losses- through the decisions, principles and precedents of the international courts, and to offer potential solutions. The high potential of the Eastern Mediterranean cannot be fully realized due to the existing maritime boundary disputes in the region. Resolving these disputes through peaceful means would provide economic and geopolitical benefits to the coastal states of the region, while also crucial for contributing to the maintenance of global peace. In line with these objectives, the analysis will cover the legal positions Turkey and the TRNC should adopt, along with alternative solutions to the disputes.