AEGEAN SEA

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has warned Greece not to try the country's patience amid fresh tension between the two countries over remarks by Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Kotzias, which he described as "provocative."

"Basically, we have many similar sides [with Greece] but ultimately, Greece should not allow one spoiled child to overshadow all of these," he said Feb. 26. 

The Turkish Armed Forces has voiced its unease over "abrasive" criticisms and reports that have targeted Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar in recent days over a number of topics on the country's agenda.

The criticisms and false reports are intended to overshadow the army's success at a time when it is fighting against terror organizations, military sources told daily Hürriyet.

The Turkish Armed Forces has voiced it uneasiness over "abrasive" criticisms and reports particularly targeting Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar in recent days over a number of topics on the country's agenda. Some false reports and criticisms were intended to overshadow the army's success at a time it is fighting against terror organizations, military sources told Hürriyet.

Athens is reportedly preparing - on a political, economic and military level - for a standoff with Ankara that could last up to two years, as the government says the recent spike in Turkish provocations is part of a plan to bring its claims in the Aegean Sea back to the fore.

In the latest of a series of incidents between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea, Turkish survey vessel TCG Cesme is currently sailing in international waters between Greeks islands and mainland Greece, according to NAVTEX (244/17) -an international safety signal/warning information to ships- issued by the Turkish government on Wednesday.

Ankara is ratcheting up its provocative behavior in the Aegean Sea.

Tension between Greece and Turkey escalated further on Friday after a Turkish coastal patrol boat fired live ammunition during a military exercise in Greek territorial waters in the eastern Aegean Sea.

The mayors of the Aegean province of Balıkesir and its district Ayvalık have joined forces to object to an urbanization project that is underway in 19 islands on the Aegean Sea, daily Hürriyet has reported.

Turkey continued its provocations towards Greece over the Aegean Sea, Wednesday with 7 airplanes violating Greek airspace a total of 25 times. Four armed F-16 fighter jets flew over the island of Farmakonisi off the west coast of Turkey, while they infringed the Athens FIR 7 times.

Greece will defend its interests in the Aegean Sea as well as the Eastern Mediterranean, the chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff said Tuesday during a presentation of the NATO member-nation's strategic priorities for the next few years.