Turkey testing Greek patience with inciting activities

Athens: Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopulus warned that Turkey is testing the Greek patience with the demand for withdrawal of Greek deployments from the islands under Greek control and intrusions into the Greek airspace. A few hours ago, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded that Greece withdraw its deployments from the islands of Chios and Samos. Greece, infuriated with the demand, seems to have reprimanded Turkey.

Moreover, the focus of the entire world is on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Taking advantage of this, Turkey has intensified its activities in the region. Prime Minister of Greece Kiriacosa Mitsotakisa recently visited the United States. During his visit, the Greek Prime Minister met US President Joe Biden and signed an agreement to purchase the super-advanced F-35 fighter jets. Prime Minister Mitsotakisa also lashed out at Turkey during his speech at the US Congress.

Agitated by this, Turkey initiated intrusions into the Greek airspace. There have been earlier instances of Turkish violation of Greek airspace. But it is claimed that there has been an increase in Turkish activities following the speech of Prime Minister Mitsotakisa at the US congress. At the same time, Turkish patrol vessels intruded into the Aegean marine region. The number of immigrants headed for Greece from Turkey is also rising.

Amid all this, Turkish President Recep Erdogan made a fresh demand with Prime Minister Mitsotakisa. Turkey proposed that Greece should demilitarise Chios and Samos islands by withdrawing its deployments from the islands. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused that the military deployments on these islands pose a challenge to Turkish sovereignty. Turkey has staked a claim on 14 islands under Greek control.

Infuriated with the Turkish demand, Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopulus lambasted Turkey. The Greek Defence Minister warned during the GLOBSEC meeting held in Slovakia that Greece could take any action to protect its sovereignty. Turkey is testing the Greek patience with inciting activities.

The Greek Defence Minister criticised a strange situation in which a NATO member is threatening another NATO member. Defence Minister Panagiotopulus reprimanded that instead of having such partner countries, Greece would use the international rights for its security.

Meanwhile, Greece has placed its defence forces on alert following the Turkish intrusions. Immigrants from Asia and Africa have gathered in Turkey for entry into Europe. Turkey had warned that it would release these immigrants into Europe through Greece. Considering that Turkey can use these immigrants against it, now that the relations between the two countries have soured, Greece has instructed its agencies to be prepared for an immigrant influx.