Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern warning to Greece, urging it to halt the bolstering of its military presence on the Aegean islands. Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye will not tolerate what it views as breaches of international agreements. This statement came after Erdoğan attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. He underscored Türkiye’s desire for amicable relations with Greece but insisted that Athens retract its military deployments on islands that Ankara regards as demilitarized according to international treaties.
Greece, on the other hand, justifies its military buildup by citing security concerns, asserting its right to safeguard its territory. The two nations are also at odds over maritime boundaries and initiatives to establish marine parks in the Aegean Sea. Erdoğan made it clear that while Türkiye harbors no intentions of annexing any foreign territory, it remains firm in protecting what it perceives as its rightful claims. He cautioned that overlooking international agreements could exacerbate tensions and urged Greece to reflect on lessons from past conflicts.
During his interactions at the summit, Erdoğan expressed Türkiye’s interest in enhancing its involvement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while maintaining robust ties with Western nations. In discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Erdoğan addressed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and security concerns in the Black Sea, advocating for durable security measures for commercial shipping given the increasing risks faced by Turkish vessels in the region.
Additionally, Erdoğan engaged in dialogue about Türkiye’s defense collaborations with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, ongoing efforts to resolve the PKK conflict, and Ankara’s aspiration to rejoin the US F-35 fighter jet program. He affirmed Türkiye’s commitment to advancing its domestically developed KAAN fighter, even as it continues negotiations with Washington.