Reis

The cannons in the Turgut Reis Bastion, built for the defense of the Bosphorus during World War II in the northwestern province of Çanakkale, have started to rust, turning into a sad sight to behold, says a lecturer.

Turkey's recent announcement of plans to significantly strengthen its naval force is seen in Athens as an attempt to level the playing field with Greece, amid an increase in tension between the two neighbors over maritime borders and energy rights in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

The reinforcement of the Turkish fleet was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Speaking at the delivery ceremony of a new type of Firtina self-propelled guns at the BMC factory near Ankara, Erdogan announced that the first unmanned aircraft carrier, the Istanbul frigate and the Piri Reis submarine, would join the Turkish fleet this year.

Turkey's president said on Jan. 23 Turkey is among the 10 countries that can design, build, and maintain its own warship, and the country's navy will be in a "very strong position" with five major projects in the coming five years.

Turkey has issued another navigational telex, or Navtex, for the area in the Eastern Mediterranean where it will conduct seismic research activities. 

According to Dec. 22's announcement, the mission, which will be carried out by the Oruç Reis seismic research vessel, will continue until June 15, 2021.

The decades-long disputes in the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas remain unresolved. And this year, while the whole world is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, these disputes once again became sources of contention between Turkey and Greece. Nevertheless, Turkey's door to diplomacy and dialogue also remains open.

Turkey is expecting the European Union to act strategically based on the facts as Greece continues provocations, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Dec. 8, ahead of a summit that will take place on Dec. 10 regarding the decision over imposing sanctions on Turkey.

Turkey on Dec. 1 reaffirmed its readiness for dialogue with Greece following the return to port of a Turkish research vessel.

Turkey's research vessel Oruc Reis has returned to the port of the southern province of Antalya after finishing seismic studies in the eastern Mediterranean, less than two weeks before a European Union summit where the bloc will evaluate possible sanctions against Ankara.

Turkey's seismic exploration vessel Oruc Reis returned to port on Monday from disputed Mediterranean waters, less than two weeks before a European Union summit where the bloc will evaluate possible sanctions against Ankara.