Turkey President Erdogan accuses Greece of occupying demilitarised islands within the Aegean Sea

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused Greece on Saturday of occupying islands within the Aegean Sea which have a demilitarised standing, and mentioned Turkey was ready to “do what is necessary” when the time comes.

Historic rivals whereas additionally being fellow members of NATO, Turkey and Greece have been at odds over points starting from overflights and the standing of Aegean islands to maritime boundaries and hydrocarbon assets within the Mediterranean, in addition to ethnically break up Cyprus.

Ankara has not too long ago accused Athens of arming the demilitarised Aegean islands – one thing Athens rejects, however Erdogan had not beforehand accused Greece of occupying them.

“Your occupying the islands does not bind us. When the time, the hour, comes, we will do what is necessary,” Erdogan mentioned, talking within the northern province of Samsun.

This is the President of a @NATO member state.
A President who needs his nation to affix the EU.
This is a President “mediating” with the UN for Ukraine.
Well, this President simply threatened fellow #NATO member Greece for the a thousandth time.
Behold, the one and solely @RTErdogan pic.twitter.com/kImhxVNEFd

— Harry Theocharous (@TheocharousH) September 3, 2022

Greece reacted by saying it won’t observe Turkey in its “outrageous daily slide” of statements and threats.

“We will inform our allies and partners on the content of the provocative statements … to make it clear who is setting dynamite to the cohesion of our alliance during a dangerous period,” the international ministry mentioned.

Turkey has not too long ago been angered by what it mentioned is harassment of its jets by Greek forces. Ankara has mentioned that S-300 air defence methods utilized by Greece had locked on to Turkish jets throughout a routine flight.

Turkey celebrated Victory Day on Aug. 30, a nationwide vacation commemorating Turkish forces driving out Greek forces in 1922. On Saturday, Erdogan additionally referred to as on Greece to “not forget Izmir”, referring to the Turkish victory.

As Erdogan prepares for what’s shaping as much as be the most important electoral problem of his almost 20-year rule in 2023, the president has performed up achievements within the world stage. He has additionally stepped up his rhetoric on international coverage.

Ankara says the Aegean islands got to Greece underneath the 1923 and 1947 treaties given that it doesn’t arm them. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has repeatedly mentioned Turkey would begin questioning Greek sovereignty over the islands if Athens continued in arming them.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has mentioned Turkey’s place of questioning Greece’s sovereignty over the islands is “absurd”.

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