Turkish Navy

"In one hand Greece holds an olive branch but in the other it holds the sword of justice," said Greece's new Defense Minister Nikos Dendias as he was sworn in on Monday. The danger is, though, that Greece is bringing a sword to a gunfight. Within hours of Dendias taking over the role, the Turkish Navy corvette Buyukada was sailing in Greek waters, not far from Athens.

Deputy Greek Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos will pay a visit to Turkey in late November amid Cyprus talks that have stalled over a dispute over the island’s natural resources.

Turkish Navy corvette TCG Buyukada exited Greece's territorial waters at 5.30 a.m. on Wednesday, according to a statement by the country's National Defense General Staff (GEETHA).

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias on Tuesday appeared to play down the presence of a Turkish Navy corvette in Greek waters, referring to “predictable” tactics by Ankara, but the latest in a series of transgressions fueled concern in the ranks of the government, with Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos condemning the “blatant violation of international law” by Turkey off the coast of Cyprus.

A Turkish navy corvette was spotted sailing in Greek waters in the early hours of Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said, adding that the vessel was closely monitored until it re-entered Turkish territory.

There have been 40 breaches of Greek air space by Turkish military aircraft this week, military sources said on Thursday.

On Thursday alone there were 22 infringements in the Aegean.

Sources said the incursions are part of a concerted tactic on Turkey’s part to challenge Greece’s air space.

Defense procurement authorities are preparing to issue a Request for Proposal (RfP) for the acquisition of indigenous fast attack craft that will cost around $800 million, according to sources, who say some of Turkey’s leading shipyards are expected to take part in bidding Turkey’s ambitious program for the acquisition of up to 10 indigenous fast attack craft (fast assault boats) may

A Turkish Navy frigate was spotted sailing in Greek waters without permission on Monday, the Armed Forces General Staff announced.

The Gelibolu sailed around the Cycladic islands of Naxos, Mylos and Paros between 1 a.m. to around noon.

It was kept under close surveillance by the Hellenic Navy and Air Force.

Greece’s armed forces are on standby as Turkish aircraft have conducted a record number of violations of Greek air space over the past two days as part of a Turkish naval exercise in the Marmara Sea, Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, Kathimerini understands.