Aegean dispute

The NATO Summit went smoothly for Greece, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made no reference to Greek-Turkish relations and did not raise the issue of the demilitarization of the Aegean islands.

After Turkey struck a deal with Sweden and Finland, that requires them to change their counter-terrorism laws to suit Ankara and that will thus permit NATO to unanimously issue invitations for them to join the Alliance tomorrow, Athens is focused on whether Erdogan will table his demands for the demilitarisation of Greek Eastern Aegean islands at the ongoing NATO summit.

Escalating Tensions

(L-R) The Greek, Turkish and European Union (EU) flags wave outside the Foreign Ministry building before a meeting between Greek Foreign Minister Dendias and his Turkish counterpart Cavusoglu, in Athens, Greece, 31 May 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU

The alliance is concerned about Greek-Turkish relations, he said

He urged Greece and Turkey to resolve their differences in the Aegean

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, Russia, September 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/VLADIMIR SMIRNOV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL.

"We warn Greece once more to avoid dreams, statements and actions that will lead to regret, as it did a century ago, and to return to its senses," Erdogan said, in a reference to Greece's defeat in the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922.

While referring to the Greek withdrawal during the Turkish War of Independence, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 9 warned Greece not to dream or take actions that will make it regret in the future.

Amidst a barrage of Turkish threats and claims of sovereignty over a series of Greek islets of the eastern Aegean by the Turkish defence ministry, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today warned Ankara not to even think of testing its territorial claims on the ground.

Turkey has sent two letters indicating that Greece violates the international law by arming the islands with the de-militarized status in the Aegean Sea, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said, calling on Athens to give proper answers to Turkey instead of escalating the tension.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has visited three Aegean islands off the Turkish coasts following a series of meetings with the U.S., France and Germany in which he complained about Turkey.