ABSTRACT
The Aegean lies in the approaches to the Turkish Straits. Following the demise of the Soviet Union, the Black Sea has been transformed from a Soviet cul-de-sac into a potential major development area. Furthermore, beyond it the Caspian Sea Basin has important, petroleum resources. The natural outlet for the Black Sea and much of the trade from the Caspian is the Turkish Straits and this has increased the geopolitical relevance of the Aegean. Greece and Turkey are members of NATO and their relationship could critically influence the future security of the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey can cite the judgement over the United Kingdom (UK) Channel Islands and the case between Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) in which islands in the Torres Strait lie close to the PNG coastline. Benefiting from the demise of the Ottoman Empire and the defeat of Italy in World War II, Greece has progressively established sovereignty over the islands of the Aegean.
