Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern warning to Greece, urging it to halt the expansion of its military forces on the Aegean islands, which Ankara views as a breach of international agreements. Following his participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Erdoğan expressed Türkiye’s desire to maintain amicable relations with Greece. However, he emphasized the need for Athens to reconsider its strategy of militarizing islands that, according to international treaties, should remain demilitarized.
Greece, on its part, justifies its military presence on these islands by citing security concerns and insists on its right to defend its territory. The long-standing tensions between the two countries have also been fueled by disputes over maritime boundaries and plans for marine parks in the Aegean Sea. Erdoğan clarified that Türkiye has no ambitions of annexing another nation’s land but is committed to safeguarding its perceived rights. He cautioned that disregarding international treaties could escalate tensions and urged Greece to heed lessons from historical conflicts.
In addition to addressing regional issues with Greece, Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s intent to strengthen its involvement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while maintaining robust ties with Western countries. During his visit to the summit, he also engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the security of the Black Sea. Erdoğan called for initiatives to ensure lasting security for commercial shipping, noting the increasing risks faced by Turkish vessels in the area.
The Turkish president also touched on various defense and diplomatic matters, including Türkiye’s defense collaborations with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and efforts to resolve the PKK conflict. Additionally, he mentioned ongoing negotiations to rejoin the US F-35 fighter jet program, stating that Türkiye would continue developing its indigenous KAAN fighter jet amid these discussions with Washington.