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5 hours agoTensions between Greece, Turkey rise due to Cyprus, Greek forces on alert
Periskopi(7 years ago)
(7 years ago)As tensions between Turkey and Greece in the eastern Mediterranean continue, despite the European Union's call for Turkey to give up drilling for oil in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus (EEZ), Greece's armed forces are on the verge of dealing with a possible escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, reports [...]
According to sources, the key issue under discussion in Athens is how to react if Turkey decides to conduct seismic research or drilling within the continental corner of Greece or its ZAZ. The biggest concern is for a possible Turkish intervention to the east of Rhodes and south of Kastelorizo.
A statement from the EU last week, though unclear, was welcomed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras as “the first clear and decisive sentence” Turkey's from the “bloc following decades of violations of international law”.
At the operational level, however, it is less clear what Greece's response should be. The country's armed forces will be on high alert during the summer, as defence officials prepare a series of plans to deal with a possible Turkish intervention.
Asked last week whether Greece can count on military support from the EU or the United States in case of an incident, Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis told reporters that Greece would have to plan to deal with such a scenario independently. There is no such promise, nor any such matter at present, but as I've said before, when we have to do something we expect to be alone”
Athens also holds little hope in French President Emmanuel Macron's promises to send French Navy ships to the Aegean, if necessary, as such pledges are made in the past.
