Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern warning to Greece regarding its military activities on the Aegean islands, emphasizing that Turkey will not accept what it views as breaches of international accords. After attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Erdoğan stressed the importance of maintaining amicable relations with Greece but urged Athens to rethink its decision to station military forces on islands that Turkey regards as demilitarized under existing international treaties.
Greece, however, justifies its military presence as essential for its national security, asserting the right to safeguard its territory. The tension between the two nations extends beyond the islands, with disputes over maritime boundaries and proposed marine parks in the Aegean Sea also fueling the discord. Erdoğan made it clear that Turkey harbors no ambition to claim territory from other nations but is committed to protecting its own interests. He cautioned that disregarding international agreements could escalate tensions and advised Greece to heed the lessons of past conflicts.
In addition to addressing the Greek issue, Erdoğan expressed Turkey’s desire to enhance its role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while simultaneously maintaining strong ties with Western countries. During his summit visit, he held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the security situation in the Black Sea. Erdoğan underscored the need for establishing enduring security measures for commercial shipping, noting the increasing risks faced by Turkish vessels in the region.
Erdoğan also touched upon various aspects of Turkey’s defense strategy, including collaboration with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, efforts to resolve the PKK conflict, and Turkey’s attempts to rejoin the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program. He highlighted Turkey’s ongoing development of its indigenous KAAN fighter jet, affirming that these efforts would continue alongside negotiations with Washington.