Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a warning to Greece, urging it to cease the expansion of its military presence on the Aegean islands. Erdoğan emphasized that Turkey would not accept actions perceived as breaches of international agreements. Following his participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Erdoğan expressed Turkey’s desire to maintain amicable relations with Greece while advising Athens to reconsider its military deployments on islands that Turkey believes should remain demilitarized according to international treaties.
In response, Greece maintains that its military positioning is essential for security purposes and asserts its right to protect its territory. The two nations have a history of disputes over maritime boundaries and plans for marine parks in the Aegean Sea. Erdoğan clarified that Turkey has no territorial ambitions but is committed to safeguarding what it sees as its legitimate rights. He cautioned that disregarding international agreements could heighten tensions and encouraged Greece to learn from historical conflicts.
Additionally, Erdoğan expressed Turkey’s intention to strengthen ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while preserving robust relations with Western countries. During the summit, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the security situation in the Black Sea. Erdoğan emphasized the importance of ensuring lasting security for commercial shipping, highlighting the increasing risks faced by Turkish vessels in the region.
Erdoğan also addressed Turkey’s defense collaboration with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, efforts to resolve the PKK conflict, and Ankara’s efforts to rejoin the US F-35 fighter jet program. He noted that Turkey would continue to advance its domestically produced KAAN fighter while ongoing negotiations with Washington take place.