There is no end to the rants from Turkey and the crescendo of provocative statements from Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The deep economic crisis in Turkey, the inflation that has reached unimaginable heights and the other internal fronts for the government in Turkey, have pushed Erdogan into a barrage of provocations with which he is testing Athens' endurance.
The Greek government, however, is reacting calmly, internationalizing Turkish provocations and strengthening its alliances while at the same time sending messages of determination, noting that it will defend its sovereign rights.
The Turkish revisionism projected in recent days by Turkish officials and the war cries against Greece are turning people's attention inside the country away from the real problems that plague its citizens, such as the dire economic situation in the country.
The Greek president[/B] who - among other problems - sees himself collapsing in the polls, has once again put Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his crosshairs, dangerously escalating tensions.
Erdogan targets Mitsotakis
Specifically, Erdogan went on a new rant against Greece while again attacking Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The Turkish president warned, among other things, that Greeks should be careful not to suffer what their grandparents did.
He said that "the courage of this people" does not buy such attitudes, adding, referring to the Prime Minister, that "when your ancestors tried to do this 100 years ago, you know what happened to them, don't let the same thing happen to you."
Referring to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Turkish President did not fail to mention once again the Prime Minister's trip to the United States. "I hosted you, I bought you food, we agreed to talk without third parties but after a few days you went to the US and spoke against us. Against the F-16s. Talking about the US bases, he repeated that 5+4 bases were set up in Greece and we are told that they are against the Russians, adding that Turkey does not believe this.
"Your words are full of lies," the Turkish president claimed, addressing the prime minister, in order to continue with an attack on the West as well, claiming that it cannot be trusted.
"Your words are full of lies," the Turkish president claimed, addressing the prime minister, in order to continue with an attack on the West, claiming that it cannot be trusted.
Athens' reaction to the crescendo of Turkish provocations
Athens is watching the barrage of Turkish provocations, both from Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish officials, and is reacting calmly.
"The Greek side is dealing with the issue calmly," diplomatic sources responded, referring to the barrage of provocative Turkish publications on the sovereignty of the Greek islands that have seen the light of day.
Out of control Turkish media
At the same time, a number of Turkish media are making extreme provocations attempting to "gray out" Aegean islands.
Typical is what Yeni Safak claims in an extreme provocation that Turkey has sovereignty over 9 Greek islands.
At the same time Milliyet writes that "some of the islands that Turkey can claim due to militarization are Rhodes, Chios and Lesvos".
Where Turkish provocativeness may lead
It should be noted that Turkey's rhetoric in recent days is strongly reminiscent of summer 2020 with the main question dominating whether Ankara will further escalate tensions.
The difference with 2020 is the juncture that obliges "allies" and "partners" to show their support for Athens slightly more strongly, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has changed the circumstances.
NATO unity is no longer an option but a requirement, since any rupture could cost the "Alliance" dearly and send the wrong signals.
In this context, both Washington and Brussels are still looking for the way to deal with Ankara, as keeping the balance is becoming increasingly difficult and neutrality could be interpreted as a Western vote for Erdogan's "revisionism."
Even if for the allies the time for a break with the Turkish president has not yet come.
The rhetoric, however, is beginning to change.
The State Department
Regarding the State Department, on Friday a State Department spokesman said after Erdogan's rant at the EFES 2022 exercise, where he openly threatened Greece with "consequences" if it continues to arm the Aegean islands that Turkey believes should be demilitarized, reiterated that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected and protected, adding that rhetoric that could further increase tension should be avoided.
Source: in.gr
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