Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan escalates threats against Greece, after Ankara accused the Greeks of “harassing” Turkish fighter jets over the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.
The tension between the two NATO members increased last week after Turkey accused that a radar of a Greek S-300 air defense battery stationed on the island of Crete was locked on Turkish fighter jets that passed in international space over the Aegean Sea.
The Turks also accused that Greek F-16s endangered Turkish fighter jets that were on a NATO mission over the Mediterranean Sea. On the other hand, the Greeks accused the Turks of repeated violations of their airspace.
In a speech delivered by Erdogan during a visit to an arms exhibition of Turkey’s defense industries, he sent threatening messages, referring to the Turkish victory in the war against Greece a century ago. “The Greek occupation of the Aegean islands does not bind us,” he declared. “When the time comes, we will do what is necessary. We may arrive unexpectedly one night.” Erdogan added: “Look at history, if you go further, Greece will pay a heavy price.”
The Greek media reported that the government in Athens is preparing for the possibility that tensions will increase ahead of the general and presidential elections in Turkey, which are to be held in June 2023.
Since the assumption is that the Turkish rhetoric is aimed at the domestic audience, a decision was made in Greece not to respond to the words in order to prevent further escalation.