Ankara: Turkish President Erdoğan threatened war against Greece. This is the first time that two NATO member states have such animosity. International media reports that other members of NATO are shocked by Erdogan’s threats.
Erdogan is preparing for war on the accusation that Greece has occupied an island under the control of Turkey in the demilitarized zone of the Aegean Sea. Although Turkey and Greece have historically been enemies, both countries are members of NATO. Disputes between the two countries range from air traffic to the Aegean islands and borders in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as over hydrocarbon resources.
Apart from that, the two have been at loggerheads over ethnically divided Cyprus for years. Earlier, Erdogan had accused Greece of deploying troops in the Aegean Sea. Greece has denied allegations of military deployment. But this is the first time that Erdogan has come forward with the accusation that Greece has seized an island.
The allegations against Greece come at a time when Erdogan, who is facing general elections next year, is facing a strong challenge to his two-decade rule. The Aegean Islands were handed over to Greece by Turkey in 1923 and 1947.
At that time it was decided that these islands should not be militarized. Turkey’s foreign minister said that Greece’s sovereignty over the island would be questioned if militarized. But Greece maintains that it would be foolish to question its sovereignty over the island.