Turkey continues to maintain tension and extreme rhetoric on the issue of the militarization of the Aegean islands, repeating "warnings" against Greece. The tension with Greece seems to be gaining votes for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, as the latest polls show ahead of the crucial 2023 elections.
On Thursday, the Turkish Security Council meeting, chaired by Erdogan, asked Athens to: "end activities related to the militarization of Aegean islands," accusing our country of... "violating" international law with its actions.
The previous meeting of the body, at the end of last September, had been in a similar mood, accusing Greece of "provocative actions," directly threatening to use "all kinds of legal methods and means for the rights and interests of our nation," as the statement said at the time.
All this, of course, at the same time that the threat: "one night we will come suddenly", through the mouth of the Turkish president has become a "flag" with daily violations of Greek airspace.
At yesterday's meeting of the Turkish Security Council, the issue of Cyprus was also discussed. Once again Ankara's position for a two-state solution was expressed, defiantly calling the island "an integral part of the Turkish world."
Earlier, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, speaking at the 29th OSCE Ministerial Council in Lodz, Poland, noted that the international community should be extremely careful, as : "revisionism is trying to find ground on quicksand."
Earlier, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, speaking at the 29th OSCE Ministerial Council in Lodz, Poland, noted that the international community should be extremely careful, as : "revisionism is trying to find ground on quicksand.
Referring indirectly to Turkey, the Foreign Minister referred to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, noting that : "We would not have reached this point if Russia had chosen to do the obvious, to respect international law".
Abdulhamid Khan in Antalya Bay
At the same time, within the Turkish continental shelf, the Turkish floating drilling vessel "Abdulhamid Khan" continues its work in Antalya Bay in the north-east of occupied Cyprus. According to the NAVTEX issued, the work will take place from 2 December to 23 January.
It seems that at this stage at least, Turkey does not choose to increase the tension with the "Abdulhamid Khan", in areas of interest to Greece and Cyprus, by directly contesting part of the Greek or Cypriot EEZ.
It seems that at this stage at least, Turkey does not choose to increase the tension with the "Abdulhamid Khan", in areas of interest to Greece and Cyprus, by directly contesting part of the Greek or Cypriot EEZ. Recently the director of the Turkish Petroleum Company (TPAO), Melih Khan Bilgin, had stated that the ship will carry out operations : "in every corner of the Blue Homeland."
Operations in northern Syria
At the Turkish Security Council meeting, operations in northern Syria were thoroughly discussed. The statement said that their sole target is terrorist organizations that "target Turkey's borders, cities, civilians and security forces."
The statement noted that: "every necessary step will be taken with determination," at the same time as rumors of a ground military operation on Syrian territory intensify. This despite a warning from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who made it clear to his Turkish counterpart Houloussi Akar that the US is not positive about such an action. The Turkish defense minister reportedly asked the US to show understanding for a possible new Turkish military operation on Syrian territory.
The US official called on Akar to also end Turkish air operations in northern Syria, stressing that there is a risk that US forces operating in the region could also be affected.
Source: Proto Thema
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