Provocative statement from the Turkish Ministry of Defense: The Greek approach is responsible for the violations in the Aegean!

More specifically, during the established weekly briefing of the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the press spokesman, Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk, insisted that Turkey is not the side escalating the tension in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.

“The side escalating the tension in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean is not Turkey, but exclusive and unilateral moves, as well as approaches that aim to create faits accomplis,” Akturk said, adding that Turkey wants the region “to be shaped as a basin of cooperation and stability and not as a field of conflict.”

Responding to Greek media reports about violations of Greek airspace, the Turkish ministry provocatively claimed that “the basis of the allegations of violations lies in the inconsistency of the Greek approach regarding territorial waters and airspace, which has no precedent either today or historically”!

According to Ankara, "the flights carried out by our country in the Aegean are carried out in international airspace", while it is reiterated that Turkey "is prepared to resolve all problems with Greece by peaceful means, through dialogue and negotiations, within the framework of international law, mutual goodwill and good-neighborly relations".

According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the trilateral military cooperation initiative between Israel, Greece and Cyprus does not constitute a military threat to Turkey, however "movements contrary to the spirit of the alliance" cannot change the situation on the ground in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.

As noted, "Israel's statements directed against Turkey and the rhetoric that could increase tension in the region have no basis in relation to the realities on the ground and international law".

“Our country is in favor of constructive dialogue in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, on the basis of the NATO Alliance. However, it should be known that steps contrary to the spirit of the alliance cannot change the situation on the ground,” he said.

At the same time, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stressed that the government’s position regarding the security and rights of the pseudo-state is “clear and unchangeable,” adding that “Turkey has not avoided using the powers granted to it by the status of guarantor power to this day and will not do so in the future.”