Turkish foreign minister calls militarization of Aegean islands a threat
In Azerbaijan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Ankara considers Greece’s militarization of the Aegean islands a threat to its security. According to him, by maintaining a military presence on some of the islands, Athens is violating international treaties, Politico Europe reports.
Ankara’s statement
Fidan said that Turkey seeks to maintain good-neighborly relations with Greece and does not want it to become a tool in the hands of those seeking to destabilize the region and plunge it into chaos. He stated that the militarization of islands with demilitarized status poses a threat to Turkey.
The Turkish minister urged Greece to fulfill its obligations stemming from international treaties in a more mature manner and in the spirit of alliance. He also said that Greece should not add another provocation to the numerous security challenges facing the region.
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Disputes between NATO allies
Greece and Turkey, which are NATO allies, have had disagreements for decades over maritime borders, mutual claims to the continental shelf, and the Cyprus issue. Tensions between Athens and Ankara have recently also intensified amid Greece’s strengthening ties with Israel, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sees as an attempt to encircle his country.
Earlier this month, Greece lodged an official complaint with Turkey over Ankara’s announcement of “national” marine parks. Athens considers this decision invalid and without legal force, as it extends to areas beyond Turkish jurisdiction and within the Greek continental shelf. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised the issue during a meeting with European Council President António Costa in Athens and stated that his country would not accept instructions on strengthening its own defense capabilities.
