Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has cautioned Greece against bolstering its military forces on the Aegean islands, emphasizing that Turkey will not stand by actions that it perceives as breaches of international agreements. Following his participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Erdoğan expressed Turkey’s desire to sustain amicable relations with Greece. However, he urged Athens to reconsider its strategy of stationing military units on islands that Ankara believes should remain demilitarized according to international treaties.
In response, Greece insists that its military presence is crucial due to security concerns, asserting its right to defend its territory. The dispute over military deployment is part of broader tensions between the two nations, which also include disagreements over maritime boundaries and proposals for marine parks in the Aegean. Erdoğan underscored that Turkey has no ambitions to seize another nation’s land but is committed to safeguarding its perceived rights, warning that dismissing international accords might escalate tensions and advised Greece to heed lessons from past conflicts.
During his visit to the summit, Erdoğan also highlighted Turkey’s intention to strengthen its ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while continuing to maintain robust relationships with Western nations. He engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on matters surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Black Sea security, advocating for measures to ensure lasting security for commercial shipping, noting the increasing risks faced by Turkish vessels in the area.
Additionally, Erdoğan addressed Turkey’s defense collaborations with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and ongoing efforts to resolve the PKK conflict. He also mentioned Ankara’s ambitions to rejoin the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program. Despite these negotiations, Erdoğan affirmed Turkey’s commitment to further developing its indigenous KAAN fighter aircraft.