Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday accused Greece of provoking conflict after Ankara released a video showing Greek military activity in the demilitarised Aegean islands.
On Sunday, the Turkish military released a video captured by its drones that showed two Greek ships heading towards the Aegean islands of Lesbos (Midili) and Samos (Sisam). The footage revealed that the ships carried 41 armoured vehicles to the islands.
The military said this was proof of Greece trying to change the demilitarised status of the Aegean islands. It claimed that the United States (US) gifted the armoured vehicles to Greece, which frequently deploys them to the islands.
Reacting to the video, Erdoğan said Athens’ policies are “full of provocations.” He asserted that Greece is trying to prevent “our programme of building up a great and powerful Turkey.” However, the Turkish President noted that Greece cannot stop Turkey’s progress. “Greece is not and cannot be our equivalent or counterpart in political, military and economic terms,” he emphasised. Saying that such military build-ups are “not enough to elevate Greece to our level,” Erdoğan warned that Athens’ actions are only dragging it towards a complex situation.
Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs observed the moments Greek Army deploying armored vehicles to the Islands of Non-Military Status in the Aegean, ignoring international law.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 25, 2022
Greek landing ships delivered 23 armored vehicles to Lesbos and 18 armored vehicles to Samos. pic.twitter.com/1tQyi8akeY
“We will never hesitate to use all the means in hand and defend our country’s rights and interests against Greece, if need be,” Erdoğan said, hinting that Turkey could resort to military action if Greece does not halt its military activities.
Following the incident, Turkey summoned Greece’s ambassador to Ankara, Christodoulos Lazaris, on Monday to formally protest Greek military activities in the Aegean islands. Ankara also complained to Washington, urging the Biden administration to demand that Athens halt its provocations and warn Greece against using US military equipment in demilitarised regions.
While Greece is yet to react to Turkey’s claims officially, a Greek official told AFP that Ankara’s accusations are “completely unfounded and incompatible with international law.” The official also accused Ankara of “aggressive behaviour” and said that Ambassador Lazaris had written two letters to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres outlining Greece’s position.
Washington is yet to take a firm position on the issue. When asked whether he was concerned about Greece’s military activities, State Department spokesperson Ned Price called on Turkey and Greece to refrain from making “statements or any actions that could raise tensions between NATO allies.” “We continue to encourage our NATO allies to work together to maintain peace and security in the region and to resolve any differences they may have diplomatically,” he said during a press briefing on Monday.
Erdogan is pushing Turkey towards the brink of war with Greece, preparing the ground like Putin did vs Ukraine. A coordinated and sustained propaganda effort to question/discredit the legitimate and sovereign rights of Greek islands is now escalating to its most dangerous phase.
— The Greek Analyst (@GreekAnalyst) September 27, 2022
When quizzed about the US stance on the issue, Price evaded the question and insisted that the Russia-Ukraine war is the most pressing issue for Washington. “We should remain focused on what is a collective threat to all of us, and that’s Russia’s aggression,” he said.
Tensions between Greece and Turkey have been simmering over the status of the Aegean islands. Earlier this month, Erdoğan accused Greece of occupying the islands, the first time a Turkish leader has made such claims. Ankara also claimed that the Greek military harassed Turkish warplanes during NATO missions. Turkey alleged that Greek missile systems like the S-300 have locked on to Turkish planes during missions.
Turkey has said that Greece’s moves violate international treaties, referring to a 1947 peace treaty between Turkey and Greece that called for the demilitarisation of the Aegean and allowed for a small presence of Greek soldiers on the Dodecanese Island.
Both sides have also accused each other of violating their respective airspaces. For instance, in May, Turkey claimed that Greek warplanes had entered its airspace 30 times in three days. Greece, on the other hand, claims that Turkish jets have flown over its territory. Both sides have also dispatched warships to the Aegean Sea.
Ankara on Monday summoned the Greek ambassador and protested to Washington after accusing Greece of deploying US armoured vehicles on Lesbos and Samos, two Aegean islands near the Turkish coast.
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) September 26, 2022
➡️ https://t.co/yZPkwTVDz6 pic.twitter.com/uyWVqCO0OC
In August, tensions escalated when Turkey sent its first drill ship to the Mediterranean in more than two years. Greece and Cyprus fiercely criticised the move and said Turkey’s mission violates Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Turkey and Greece have been at odds over controlling the energy-rich Aegean and Mediterranean seas for decades. The dispute involves a complex array of issues, such as the ownership of territorial waters and airspace, including the question of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).