Because the Aegean Sea stays a hotbed of tensions, Türkiye patiently repeats its warning to Greece. Someday after the Greek coast guard harassed Turkish fishing boats within the sea dividing the 2 international locations, Protection Minister Hulusi Akar adopted bittersweet rhetoric towards Athens.
Calling Greece to not impede on Türkiye’s supply of a hand of friendship, the nation’s protection minister on Friday reaffirmed that Ankara wouldn’t depart any harassment or provocation by Athens with out a response.
Türkiye didn’t obtain a optimistic response to its dialogue makes an attempt from Greece, Akar famous, talking at an occasion within the northern Tokat province, saying Athens shouldn’t be serving to “de-escalate tensions” between the 2 international locations. “We don’t harass or provoke (Greece), however we won’t depart any harassment or provocation towards us with out response,” Akar stated, including that regardless of Athens’ “provocative angle,” Ankara continues its name for dialogue. “Don’t delay in holding this hand of friendship,” he stated urging Greece to finish its “irreconcilable and provocative attitudes.”
The 2 international locations are at odds over a number of points, together with competing claims to jurisdiction within the Jap Mediterranean, overlapping claims over their continental cabinets, maritime boundaries, airspace, power, the ethnically break up island of Cyprus, the standing of the islands within the Aegean Sea and migrants. Relations deteriorated after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated Mitsotakis “not exists” for him, when Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis lobbied to dam gross sales of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye throughout a go to to america, regardless of beforehand agreeing with Erdoğan “to not embody third international locations in our dispute.” Final Might, Erdoğan minimize ties with Mitsotakis and declared all different communication channels between the international locations closed. The newest incidents to have triggered tensions embody two Greek coast guard boats opening fireplace on a cargo ship in worldwide waters, continued pushbacks by Greek parts recorded by Turkish UAVs, and former harassment of Turkish fighter jets on a NATO mission by Greece’s Russian-made S-300s.
Akar highlighted the necessity for peaceable “methods and strategies” to resolve issues between Türkiye and Greece. “On this context, we held consultative talks as a part of confidence-building measures, however sadly, we couldn’t get a optimistic response from our neighbor Greece,” Akar stated. He stated Greece refused their “invitation” and as a substitute, resorted to blaming Türkiye by utilizing phrases like neo-Ottomanism, revisionism and expansionism. “None of these have any reputable foundation; they’re groundless. It’s Greece which disrupts the established order; it’s Greece that arms its islands,” Akar stated.
Worldwide therapies in power block what Türkiye name the militarization of Aegean islands and permit solely armament for the islands’ safety. Turkish army drones lately recorded the deployment of Greek armored autos on the islands of Lesbos and Samos, which Ankara maintains violates worldwide legislation. Following the incident, Ankara protested with america and Greece over the illegal deployment of armored autos on the Aegean islands with nonmilitary high quality.
Türkiye summoned the Greek ambassador and known as for an finish to violations on Aegean islands and restoring their nonmilitary standing, in accordance with the Overseas Ministry. Within the be aware, the ministry acknowledged that the deployment violated Greece’s obligations beneath the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Treaty of Paris. These islands had been required to be demilitarized beneath the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Treaty of Paris, so any troops or weapons on the islands are strictly forbidden.
“It’s Greece which provokes Türkiye; it’s Greece which fired upon our fishing boats yesterday. They’re escalating tensions only for the sake of their home politics. They proceed such makes an attempt, which certainly go towards the welfare of the Greek folks. We responded each on the sphere and on the desk and can proceed doing so. We don’t resort to provocation, assaults or harassment and we won’t depart any harassment go unanswered,” he stated, noting all army models are “on alert.” “Come to your senses and do not snicker on the flawed facet of your mouth,” he stated.
Akar urged Greece to not embark “on an journey” by trusting others. “You probably did it up to now and also you noticed the implications,” he stated, referring to the Greek occupation of Türkiye within the aftermath of World Battle One, which ended with the defeat of Greek forces within the face of successive Turkish victories.
Struggle towards terrorism
Akar stated Türkiye has been a rising actor within the worldwide neighborhood beneath the management of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and was striving to guard Türkiye’s rights, including that Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) now had higher duty for the safety of the nation. He famous that Türkiye has been going by way of a stage in its historical past with the very best variety of counterterrorism operations.
“Our military of heroes maintains safety of our borders and beneath the technique of eradicating terrorism in its supply, perform a combat towards terrorist teams outdoors the borders. We solely goal terrorists and respect integrity and sovereignty rights of all our neighbors, primarily Iraq and Syria,” he stated. He dismissed claims that Türkiye focused Kurds in its operations and Turks and stated Kurds have at all times been brothers and sisters, “as our martyr’s cemeteries the place Kurds and Turks are buried subsequent to one another point out.”
Relations with Syria
The Turkish protection chief additional commented on a current tripartite assembly between Türkiye, Russia and Syria and stated Ankara had affirmed its help for Syria’s territorial integrity.
Urging folks in Syria not be a software of provocations, Akar burdened that Türkiye’s main concern is counterterrorism. “We overtly declared our place. We won’t give concessions in our combat towards terrorism; that is our sole goal. We additionally underlined that we couldn’t settle for any extra Syrian refugees and a brand new wave of migration shall be unacceptable. Thus, we had been working to make sure that our Syrian brothers and sisters keep of their homeland. We’ve got Syrian brothers and sisters we work, reside collectively each in Türkiye and Syria and it must be identified that we’ll not settle for any determination that shall be towards them, will violate their rights,” he stated.
On Dec. 28, the Turkish, Russian and Syrian protection ministers met in Moscow to debate counterterrorism efforts in Syria. They agreed to proceed tripartite conferences to make sure stability in Syria and the broader area. The assembly tackled the Syria disaster, the refugee difficulty and joint counterterrorism efforts towards all terrorist teams in Syria.
