Turkish ‘unprecedented violation’ near Alexandroupolis

The Greek Foreign Ministry called the alleged incursion “a very clear escalation of Turkish provocation,” Kathimerini said, adding that Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias had instructed the ministry’s secretary-general, Themistoklis Demiris, to lodge “an immediate and strong demarche with the Turkish ambassador.”

Greece frequently accused its neighbour Turkey of instigating tensions in the Aegean by violating its airspace with fighter jets.

The NATO allies have long been at odds over a string of issues, including the ethnically divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, the status of Aegean islands and the movement of migrants across the Aegean Sea.

Friday’s incursion was “part of Turkey’s effort to promote its neo-Ottoman revisionism, in violation of the fundamental rules of international law,” Kathimerini cited the Greek Foreign Ministry as saying.

“This undermines the cohesion and immediate priorities of NATO, and poses a clear threat to the European Union at a critical juncture, as the port of Alexandroupoli is a key transport hub for strengthening our allies,” it said.

Athens also said it would be informing the EU, NATO and the United Nations about the incident, according to Kathimerini.

Earlier this month, U.S. Under Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland condemned Turkey’s violations and flights over Greek islands as being “provocative,” Kathimerini reported.

The remarks arrived after Athens had registered 168 airspace violations and 42 illegal overflights in a single day on April 27, Kathimerini cited Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexandros Papaoioannou as saying, breaking the previous record of single-day overflights set of 23 in 2020.