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“Turkey has the power to tear cards and documents”
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Turkish President Erdogan threatens Greece with consequences
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In the midst of the dispute over the search for gas in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey has announced a military exercise called “Mediterranean Storm”. Another message from Erdogan to Athens is unmistakable.
reTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked Greece to negotiate controversial territorial claims in the Mediterranean. Otherwise, the country would have to accept the consequences, Erdogan said at the opening ceremony of a hospital in Istanbul on Saturday.
“They will understand that Turkey has the political, economic and military power to break the immoral cards and documents that have been imposed,” said the Turkish president. Erdogan referred to the areas that Greece and Cyprus have marked as their economic zones at sea.
Turkey has also announced a new military exercise off Cyprus. Under the name “Mediterranean storm” it should start on Sunday and last until Thursday, as announced on Saturday by the Turkish Defense Ministry. Units from Turkey-controlled northern Cyprus will also participate. The goal is to enhance “mutual training, cooperation and interoperability” between mainland Turkey and the command of troops on the divided Mediterranean island, she said.
Turkish news agency Ihlas also reported on Saturday that around 40 Turkish tanks had been moved from the Syrian border to the Edirne region on the Greek border.
Greece accuses Turkey of illegal behavior
Turkey is involved in a dispute with Greece and Cyprus over oil and gas development rights in the eastern Mediterranean. All countries have used the navy and air forces to promote their conflicting claims in the region.
NATO had previously announced that military representatives from Turkey and Greece had started technical talks to minimize the risk of armed conflict. Greece accuses Turkey of illegally exploring natural gas reserves off the Greek islands.
The island of Cyprus has been divided since a Turkish military intervention in 1974. In the north, a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was established with Turkish help, but this is only recognized by Ankara. Turkish troops are also stationed there. The entire island is internationally recognized as the Republic of Cyprus and has been a member of the EU since 2004.
