Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern warning to Greece regarding the increased military presence on the Aegean islands, which Ankara views as a violation of international agreements. Following his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Erdoğan emphasized Türkiye’s desire for amicable relations with Greece while urging Athens to withdraw military forces from islands that are deemed demilitarized under international treaties.
Greece, on the other hand, insists its military deployments are essential for security reasons and asserts the right to defend its territory. The situation has further strained relations between the two nations as they continue to dispute maritime boundaries and plans for marine parks in the Aegean Sea. Erdoğan reiterated that Türkiye has no territorial ambitions but stressed the importance of upholding its perceived rights. He cautioned that any disregard for international agreements could heighten tensions and advised Greece to learn from historical conflicts.
In addition to addressing the tensions with Greece, Erdoğan expressed Türkiye’s intent to strengthen ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while also maintaining robust relations with Western countries. During his visit, he engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and security concerns in the Black Sea. Erdoğan underscored the need for lasting security measures to ensure the safety of commercial shipping, highlighting the increased risks faced by Turkish vessels in the region.
Erdoğan’s discussions extended to defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He also touched upon efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict with the PKK and Türkiye’s aspirations to rejoin the US F-35 fighter jet program. Despite ongoing negotiations with Washington, Erdoğan affirmed Türkiye’s commitment to advancing its domestically produced KAAN fighter jet.