The Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, stated that Ankara considers Greece's militarization of the Aegean Islands a threat to its security. These remarks were made as tensions between the two neighbors have increased.
Turkey's Demands from Greece
Fidan, during his visit to Azerbaijan, said: "We do not want Greece to be a tool in the hands of those who intend to destabilize the region. We seek to maintain good neighborly relations." He also added that Athens has violated its international commitments regarding military presence on certain islands.
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The Turkish Foreign Minister emphasized: "The militarization of islands in a non-military status is considered a threat to us. We invite our neighbor and ally to act with greater maturity regarding its commitments under international agreements. Greece should not add further provocations to the multiple security challenges our region faces."
History of Tensions Between Turkey and Greece
Despite both Greece and Turkey being NATO members, the two countries have been embroiled in various issues for decades, including maritime borders, mutual claims over continental shelves, and long-standing disputes over Cyprus. Tensions between Athens and Ankara have recently escalated, especially following the recent strengthening of ties between Greece and Israel, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan views as an attempt to "besiege" his country.
Earlier this month, Greece filed an official complaint against Ankara for declaring Turkish "national" marine parks, which Athens considers "invalid and lacking legal effect" as these areas fall outside Turkey's jurisdiction and within Greece's continental shelf.
Greece's Response to Criticism
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of Greece, raised this issue during a meeting with Antonio Costa, the President of the European Council, in Athens. He stated: "My country is a peaceful nation that poses no threat to anyone. However, we will not accept instructions from anyone on how to strengthen our defense capabilities."
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