Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a caution to Greece regarding its military activities on the Aegean islands, emphasizing that Türkiye will not accept any actions perceived as breaches of international treaties. Following his participation in a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Erdoğan expressed Türkiye’s desire for amicable relations with Greece. However, he urged Athens to reconsider its stance on deploying military forces on islands that Türkiye believes should remain demilitarized according to international accords.
Greece, on the other hand, insists that its military presence is warranted due to security threats and asserts its right to defend its territories. The longstanding tension between the two nations also extends to disputes over maritime boundaries and plans for marine parks in the Aegean Sea. Erdoğan reiterated that Türkiye has no aspirations to annex land from any nation but stressed its commitment to safeguarding what it perceives as its rightful claims. He highlighted the potential escalation of tensions if international agreements are disregarded and advised Greece to reflect on historical conflicts.
In addition to addressing regional issues, Erdoğan expressed Türkiye’s intention to strengthen its involvement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while simultaneously maintaining robust ties with Western nations. During his visit, he engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the security situation in the Black Sea. Erdoğan called for initiatives aimed at ensuring the safety of commercial shipping, as Turkish vessels face increasing challenges in the region.
The Turkish president also touched upon Türkiye’s defense partnerships, particularly with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and outlined efforts to resolve the conflict with the PKK. Furthermore, Erdoğan mentioned Türkiye’s ongoing attempts to rejoin the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program, emphasizing the development of the domestically produced KAAN fighter aircraft as negotiations with Washington progress.