Greece’s foreign minister criticized Turkey after Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would fire ballistic missiles at Athens.
“The threat of a missile assault against Greece by a NATO member or an ally is unacceptable and universally condemned,” Nikos Dendias said on his way to a meeting of the European Union’s foreign ministers on Monday in Brussels.
The North Atlantic Alliance “cannot and must not” accept North Korean ideas, he declared.
During a town hall meeting with teenagers in the northern Turkish city of Samsun late on Sunday, Erdogan claimed Turkey has begun producing its own short-range ballistic missiles dubbed Tayfun, which he claims is “frightening the Greeks.”
“It can hit Athens,” the Greeks claim, according to Erdogan. Naturally, it will. “A nation like Turkey will have to take action if you don’t maintain your composure and if you attempt to arm the islands with goods from the US and other countries.”
The two sides are separated on a number of issues, including territorial claims in the Aegean Sea and oil exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean, which have long caused tension in relations between the NATO members and their neighbors. Three times in the last 50 years, the two countries have been on the verge of war.
Erdogan has also stated that Turkish military forces may enter Greece “suddenly one night,” and Turkish government officials have publicly disputed the sovereignty of populated Greek islands. However, Turkey has been ratcheting up the rhetoric in recent months. A threat of a missile strike is still quite unusual.
Greece was accused by Turkey last week of breaking international agreements by holding a military drill in the Aegean. According to Turkey, the deployment of troops or weapons on Greek islands in the eastern Aegean close to its shore breaches the non-military status of the islands under international law. Greece says it must protect the islands from a possible Turkish attack, pointing out that Ankara keeps a large military force on the western coast of Turkey, right across from the islands.
Greek Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that “Greece needs to repudiate its transgression” in response to the military drill last Tuesday. We will do whatever needs to be done unless it backs out of the situation and follows the agreement.
He added, “Whoever sows the wind will also reap the storm.” We will take the required action if you do not desire peace. abruptly one evening.”
