Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern warning to Greece, urging it to cease bolstering its military presence on the Aegean islands. Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye views such actions as violations of international accords and will not tolerate them. His remarks came following his participation in a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Erdoğan expressed a desire to maintain amicable relations with Greece but stressed that Athens should reconsider its strategy of stationing military forces on islands that Türkiye regards as demilitarized under international treaties.
Greece, on the other hand, contends that its military deployments are justified due to security concerns and asserts its right to defend its territory. The two nations have a history of disputes over maritime boundaries and the establishment of marine parks in the Aegean Sea. Erdoğan clarified that Türkiye harbors no intentions of seizing territory from any other country but remains committed to safeguarding what it perceives as its own rights. He cautioned that disregarding international agreements could heighten tensions and urged Greece to draw lessons from past conflicts.
During his visit to the summit, Erdoğan also expressed Türkiye’s intention to deepen its involvement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while maintaining robust relations with Western nations. He had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they discussed various issues, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and security in the Black Sea. Erdoğan underscored the importance of establishing lasting security for commercial shipping, highlighting the risks Turkish vessels have been facing in the region.
Additionally, Erdoğan engaged in discussions regarding Türkiye’s defense collaborations with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, efforts to resolve the conflict with the PKK, and Ankara’s attempts to rejoin the US F-35 fighter jet program. He noted that Türkiye is committed to advancing its domestically produced KAAN fighter aircraft, even as negotiations with Washington continue.