Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern warning to Greece regarding its military activities on the Aegean islands, asserting that Türkiye will not accept what it views as breaches of international accords. Erdoğan’s remarks followed his attendance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where he emphasized that while Türkiye seeks to foster amicable relations with Greece, Athens should reconsider its stance on stationing military forces on islands deemed demilitarized under international treaties by Ankara.
Greece, on the other hand, contends that its bolstered military presence is justified due to security concerns, asserting its right to defend its territories. The ongoing tensions between the two nations extend beyond the militarization of islands, with disputes also encompassing maritime boundaries and proposals for marine parks in the Aegean Sea. Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s lack of interest in territorial expansion, while also emphasizing the country’s commitment to safeguarding its perceived rights.
The Turkish leader cautioned that neglecting international agreements could exacerbate tensions and urged Greece to draw lessons from historical conflicts. Concurrently, Erdoğan expressed Türkiye’s desire to enhance its involvement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, while simultaneously maintaining robust ties with Western nations.
During the summit, Erdoğan engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as security in the Black Sea region. He underscored the importance of establishing enduring security measures for commercial shipping, citing increasing threats faced by Turkish vessels in the area.
In addition to these discussions, Erdoğan addressed Türkiye’s defense collaborations with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, efforts to resolve the PKK conflict, and the nation’s aspirations to rejoin the US F-35 fighter jet program. He highlighted Türkiye’s ongoing development of its indigenous KAAN fighter jet, alongside continued negotiations with Washington.