The stance of Greek diplomacy was expressed just hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened Greece with “sudden” military action if it persisted in what he saw as a confrontational situation in the Aegean.
Erdogan’s comments come after Ankara claimed last Sunday that Turkish planes on a mission in the region were targeted by the Greek S-300 air defense system, denouncing the “hostile act.”
The Greek ministry said the country would not engage in “blatant” statements and “daily threats” with Turkey, but stressed that it would “immediately inform” NATO of Turkish positions “until it becomes clear who is undermining the cohesion of the alliance.” ..
Although Greece and Turkey make up NATO’s eastern flank, they have spent decades wrangling over the demarcation of maritime zones in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, while the Greek and Turkish militaries regularly challenge each other in a dispute over airspace boundaries.
The latest episode of tension occurred last Sunday, when the Greek army, according to Ankara, directed anti-aircraft missiles at two fighter planes that were flying between the islands of Crete and Rhodes.
Greek government spokesman, Yiannis Economou, described the Turkish accusation as “completely false” and “propaganda”, claiming that the increase in tension on the part of Turkey in recent days was mainly due to the “internal situation” in the country.
