Tensions between Greece and Turkey continue to escalate. It was provoked by the decision of Athens to deploy armed forces in the territory that has had the status of a demilitarized zone since 1923, writes Haqqin.
Farid IsaevAccording to observers, the situation is so tense that the prospect of war between the two NATO member countries seems very likely.
Turkey considers the militarization of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea as a real threat to its sovereignty. Thus, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan explicitly warned the Greeks in one of his speeches that "one day we may come suddenly."
Recall that the current aggravation of Turkish-Greek relations has been going on for more than two years. An additional factor in the already high tension was the military support provided to Greece by the United States, which concentrated a military strike group in the strategically important Greek port of Dedeagach on the Mediterranean coast. As a result, it looks as if Greece, inspired by American support, not only does not intend to deviate from its plans, but also, in fact, challenges Turkey.
However, in an interview with Greek media, General Evangelos Apostolakis, former Greek Defense Minister and chief of the General Staff, called on the government of Kyriakos Metsotakis to show restraint and not force the point of no return in relations with Turkey. According to Apostolakis, if the current situation escalates into hostilities, then events may get out of control. According to the general, it should be borne in mind that the condition of the Greek army is good, but not excellent.
"If military clashes begin, it will be difficult to control the further development of events, and the clashes will cover the entire region in a short time," Apostolakis stressed. "It will be like a fire that you are unsuccessfully trying to control."
In the same interview, the former Greek Defense minister said that it is impossible to move Turkey from its positions by pressure.
"The Turks do not back down before pressure. And before sitting down at the negotiating table, they prefer to act," Apostolakis said, calling on the government of his country to take seriously Erdogan's warning that "Turkey is not playing games."
At the same time, the Greek media claim that it is Turkey that is escalating tensions, and Erdogan's goal is to increase his rating on the eve of the presidential elections of 2023.
The comments of Greek columnists say that Ankara may launch a military operation against Greece immediately before the presidential elections of 2023, using the demilitarization of the Aegean islands as a pretext, as well as the protection of ethnic Turks in Western Thrace.
According to military experts, 200 – 300 Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci attack UAVs are in service with the Turkish army and navy, among other things. According to one of the possible options for the start of hostilities, Turkey will attack using the massive use of drones, from which more than a hundred missile strikes can be launched simultaneously.
It should be recalled that Greece has recently become significantly more active in the South Caucasus, where, using the factor of confrontation with Turkey, it has strengthened political support for Armenia.
As already reported, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias recently visited Yerevan, where he voiced several threatening statements against Azerbaijan.
After the completion of the visit to Yerevan, Dendias noted in an interview with Greek media that Greece, with the support of the United States, should prevent a scenario in which Armenia, due to the weakening of Russia's position in the South Caucasus, could disappear as a state.
Greece is also not satisfied with Turkey's military presence in Libya and Ankara's cooperation with the interim government of that country.
Athens' concern is caused by the fact that on October 3, a Turkish delegation consisting of Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar visited Libya, where they held talks with the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, following which a declaration on exploration and joint production of oil and hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean was signed between Turkey and Libya.
It is important to note here that Greece and Egypt immediately declared that they would not recognize this agreement, since they consider the Eastern Mediterranean as a zone of their economic interests.
The statements of Athens and Cairo also claim that the Libyan Government of National Unity is illegitimate, therefore, the agreements that Turkey signed with it will not have legal force.
