Turkey’s president has warned that Greece must participate in negotiations over the sovereignty dispute in the eastern Mediterranean or face serious consequences.
Reuters reports that Turkish President Erdogan issued the warning on Saturday while attending an open door ceremony at a hospital in Istanbul. He said, “They will either go to understand the language of politics and diplomacy or experience pain on the battlefield.”
Turkey and Greece are currently at loggerheads over oil and gas development rights in the eastern Mediterranean, with both sending naval and air forces to defend local claims.
Erdogan said, “They will understand that Turkey has the political, economic and military power to tear up the immoral maps and documents that have been implemented.” Erdoğan was referring to the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Greece and Cyprus, which are marked on the map. He also stressed that Turkey is “ready to face all eventualities and outcomes.”
For its part, NATO has previously said that Greece and Turkey have begun technical negotiations in an attempt to reduce the risk of armed conflict. Turkish media reported that the authorities had mobilized 40 tanks from the Syrian border area and moved them to the northwest of Turkey. Reuters said that Greek and Turkish fighter jets have been simulating aerial combat over the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, and that their frigates collided last month, causing minor damage to the Turkish frigate but no casualties.
Turkey faces many adversaries in the eastern Mediterranean, Reuters said. France, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates have all sent air and naval forces to conduct joint exercises with Greece or Cyprus in recent weeks. The European Union has also threatened possible sanctions against Turkey for its “illegal” actions. The United States announced this week that it is easing a 33-year-old arms embargo against Cyprus.
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