Territorial disputes, airspace violations and disputes over drilling rights in the Mediterranean – the list of conflicts between Turkey and Greece is long. Observers warn that armed conflict could even develop between the two NATO partners. The situation in the Aegean Sea escalated on Saturday, as the Greek coast guard fired at a Turkish cargo ship.
The ship “Anatolian” had been suspiciously moving within Greek territorial waters off the island of Lesvos, and the captain refused to check it, according to Athens officials. According to Turkey, the ship came under fire in international waters 11 nautical miles from the Turkish island of Bozcada. The two Greek ships involved have violated international law, Turkish state broadcaster TRT said, citing a member of the coastguard. The Greek ships had left when the Turkish coast guard reached the site of the incident. The broadcaster has published recordings intended to show the shelling. They could not be independently verified.
According to the Greek coast guard, the ship entered nearby Turkish waters after being denied inspection. The Turkish Coast Guard was informed of the incident, which happened around noon on Saturday.
The “Anatolian” sailed under the flag of the Comoros. She was escorted by the Turkish Coast Guard after the incident. Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident, Anadolu news agency said. There were 18 crew members on board the ship, including from Turkey, Egypt, Somalia and Azerbaijan.
Greek minister warns in letter about situation in Ukraine
Just a few days ago, the Greek government wrote a letter to NATO headquarters, the EU and the United Nations, warning against Turkey’s increasingly belligerent rhetoric and calling on the international community to use diplomatic means to deal with the Turkish government. reason to move. “By not doing this in a timely manner, or by underestimating the seriousness of the matter, we risk witnessing again a situation similar to what is currently happening in another part of our continent,” said the Foreign Minister. Nikos Denidas on the war in Ukraine.
Ankara criticizes “military build-up” in Aegean Sea
Ankara, on the other hand, feels threatened by the “military build-up” in the Greek islands of the Aegean, as highlighted recently. During his trip to the Balkans, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indirectly threatened an invasion, saying, “We can come suddenly one night.”
However, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis does not believe Turkey’s aggressive rhetoric can lead to war. “No, because I can’t imagine a war between Greece and Turkey,” he said during a press conference on Sunday in response to a question. He believes that Turkey is well aware of the effectiveness of the Greek armed forces.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
