Legal status of the Island of Crete

The primary objective of this thesis is to comprehensively examine the legal status of the island of Crete as shaped throughout its historical trajectory, in light of international legal norms, regional power dynamics, and current political developments. Due to its strategic location and geopolitical significance, Crete is a matter of importance not only for Greece and Turkey but also for all regional and global actors involved in the Eastern Mediterranean. In recent years, disputes over maritime jurisdiction areas and competition over energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean have brought the legal status of Crete back onto the international agenda. In this context, the thesis provides a detailed analysis of international treaties that determine the island's status—particularly the Treaty of Lausanne—and the associated demilitarization obligations. The applicability of these treaties today and the respective approaches of the parties involved are comparatively examined. Furthermore, the role of Crete in the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf is discussed, and the legal positions of Turkey and Greece within the framework of international law are analyzed. This study goes beyond legal texts; it incorporates official state policies, academic perspectives, and the positions of regional powers to reveal the multifaceted nature of the disagreements surrounding Crete. Within the scope of Turkey's Eastern Mediterranean policy, its claims regarding maritime jurisdiction areas, and its security concerns, the regional implications of the Crete issue are evaluated. In conclusion, this thesis aims to examine the legal status of the island of Crete through an impartial, scholarly, and multidimensional approach; to present the positions of different actors; and to contribute to a better understanding of the current situation from the perspective of international law. Keywords: Eastern Mediterranean, International Law, International Treaties, Island of Crete, Legal Status, Regional Diplomacy