Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern warning to Greece, urging it to halt the expansion of its military presence on the Aegean islands. Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye would not accept any actions perceived as violations of international agreements. His comments came after attending a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Erdoğan stressed Türkiye’s desire to maintain amicable relations with Greece but called on Athens to reconsider its strategy of stationing military forces on islands that Ankara believes are supposed to remain demilitarized according to international treaties.
Greece, on its part, contends that the military deployment is crucial due to security concerns and asserts its right to defend its territory. The two nations have a history of disputes, including disagreements over maritime boundaries and plans for marine parks in the Aegean Sea. Erdoğan clarified that Türkiye does not aim to seize territory from any country but is committed to safeguarding what it considers its rightful claims. He cautioned that disregarding international agreements could lead to heightened tensions and advised Greece to learn from historical conflicts.
Additionally, Erdoğan expressed Türkiye’s interest in strengthening its ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while still maintaining robust relationships with Western nations. During the summit, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and security in the Black Sea region. Erdoğan underscored the importance of establishing long-term security for commercial shipping, especially as Turkish vessels face increasing risks in these waters.
The Turkish president also addressed matters concerning Türkiye’s defense partnerships with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict with the PKK, and Ankara’s ambitions to rejoin the US F-35 fighter jet program. Erdoğan highlighted that Türkiye would continue to advance its own KAAN fighter jet development, even as negotiations with Washington persist.