ATHENS — Ankara considers Greece’s militarization of the Aegean Islands a security threat, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, as tensions between the two neighbors rise. But he added that Athens is in breach of international treaties in maintaining a military presence on some of the islands. Tensions between Athens and Ankara have seen a recent uptick, particularly following a recent strengthening of ties between Greece and Israel, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sees as a bid to “encircle” his country.
Earlier this month, Greece delivered a formal complaint to Ankara over Turkey’s declaration of “national” marine parks, which Athens considers “invalid and lacking legal effect” as they extend into areas outside Turkish jurisdiction and within the Greek continental shelf. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised the issue in a meeting with European Council President António Costa in Athens. However, it will not accept instructions from anyone on how to strengthen its defense capabilities,” Mitsotakis said.
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