Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern warning to Greece regarding its military activities on the Aegean islands, cautioning that Ankara will not accept what it perceives as breaches of international agreements. Following his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Erdoğan emphasized Türkiye’s desire to maintain amicable relations with Greece. However, he urged Athens to reconsider its strategy of stationing military forces on islands that, according to Ankara, should remain demilitarized as per international treaties.
Greece, on the other hand, justifies its military presence on these islands by citing security concerns and asserts its right to defend its territory. The disagreement between the two nations extends beyond the islands, as they have also been at odds over maritime boundaries and plans for marine parks in the Aegean Sea. Erdoğan made it clear that while Türkiye does not intend to seize territory from any country, it remains committed to defending its perceived rights. He cautioned that disregarding international agreements could escalate tensions and encouraged Greece to reflect on historical conflicts.
The Turkish president also highlighted Türkiye’s interest in strengthening its involvement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, while simultaneously preserving robust relations with Western nations. During his visit to the summit, Erdoğan held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and security issues in the Black Sea. He emphasized the importance of ensuring lasting security for commercial shipping, noting the increasing risks faced by Turkish vessels in the region.
In addition to these discussions, Erdoğan addressed Türkiye’s defense collaborations with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He also spoke about efforts to resolve the ongoing PKK conflict and Türkiye’s ambitions to rejoin the US F-35 fighter jet program. Despite ongoing negotiations with Washington, Erdoğan affirmed that Türkiye would continue to advance the development of its domestically produced KAAN fighter jet.