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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan afp_tickers
This content was published on September 5, 2020 – July 16:44,
(AFP)
On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a new threat to Greece due to escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, on the eve of his forces launching military exercises in the region.
The dispute between Turkey and Greece, both NATO members, has grown increasingly over the eastern Mediterranean’s oil and gas wealth since Turkey deployed an exploration ship last month to the region.
“They will realize that Turkey has the political, economic and military power to destroy the unfair maps and documents imposed on it,” Erdogan said in a speech during the inauguration of a medical city in Istanbul, referring to the disputed areas between Turkey and Greece.
“Either they understand the language of politics and diplomacy, or they will have the bitter experiences that they will live in the field,” he emphasized.
He noted that “Turkey and its people are prepared for any scenario and its consequences.”
Turkish military officials announced that they would begin a five-day military exercise on Sunday in the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, which only Ankara recognizes.
And NATO announced this week that Turkish and Greek leaders had agreed to hold technical talks to avoid any incidents between the two countries.
But Greece later said it had not yet agreed to hold talks, prompting an accusation from Turkey that the European Union member state was abandoning the dialogue.
Cyprus and Greece say Ankara is violating their sovereignty by drilling for energy resources in their territorial waters.
“We have always confirmed Turkey’s readiness for all forms of sharing, as long as it is fair,” Erdogan added.
On August 10, Turkey deployed the exploration ship “Aruj Reis”, accompanied by a fleet of warships in the waters between Cyprus and the Greek islands of Kastelorizo and Crete.
The ship’s stay in the disputed waters was extended three times.
Greece responded by conducting naval exercises with various allies from the European Union and the United Arab Emirates, not far from the smaller exercises Turkey conducted between Cyprus and Crete last week.
