Greek–Turkish relations

The German government does not expect Turkey's decision to suspend a migrant agreement with Greece to affect a similar agreement between Ankara and the European Union, a spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Turkey has suspended its migrant readmission deal with Greece, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was quoted as saying by state-run Anadolu agency, days after Greece released from prison four Turkish soldiers who fled there after a 2016 attempted coup.

The last four Turkish servicemen of the eight who fled to Greece after the coup attempt in Turkey in 2016 left the police station at the Olympic Village where they were being held on Monday, as the 18 months of maximum detention had expired.

All eight men will now reside at an undisclosed location, under heavy police protection.

Greek-Turkish relations have, according to some analysts, entered uncharted territory after the decision on Wednesday by the Council of State to irrevocably grant asylum to one of the eight Turkish servicemen who Ankara wants extradited for their alleged role in a coup attempt there two years ago.

Greek and Turkish fighter jets engaged in a dogfight on Wednesday after Turkish aircraft violated Greek airspace 28 times in sections of the northeastern, central and southeastern Aegean.

According to the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, eight Turkish F-16 fighter jets, one CN-235 and eight helicopters, also violated air traffic regulations eighteen times.

Turkish aircraft violated Greek airspace seven times at the northeastern, central and southeastern Aegean on Tuesday, in incidents that resulted in one dogfight between Greek and Turkish fighter jets.

The six Turkish F-16 jets which flew in three formations and the two CN-235 also infringed air traffic regulations five times.

A Turkish civilian arrested by Greek soldiers for straying into Greece has been deported to Turkey, the Greek police said on May 5.

There has been a lot of talk about Greek-Turkish relations in recent months.

Caution is warranted, as there is no shortage of hyperbole and irresponsibility. Non-incidents or accidents have often been presented as grave events. Similarly, statements have repeatedly been misinterpreted due to hastiness or frivolity.

Greek authorities have said a Turkish cargo ship and a Greek warship have collided in the eastern Aegean Sea, without causing injuries or severe damage.

Turkey has "come close" to overstepping Greece's "red lines," Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias told Skai in an interview aired on Tuesday night, providing the example of an incident last February when a Turkish coast guard vessel rammed a Greek coast guard patrol boat off the Imia islets in the Aegean Sea.