Turkish media are reacting strongly to the recent movements by the Greek armed forces in the wider Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean regions.
In analyses broadcast by the pro-Erdoğan television network CNN Türk, the question is posed: “Does Greece want war with Turkey?”
The report focuses mainly on three moves by Athens: the deployment of Patriot anti-aircraft systems in Karpathos, the F-16 mission to Lemnos as part of a NATO mission to protect Bulgaria, and Greece’s broader military activity in the region.
According to Turkish media reports, these moves are presented as part of a broader strategy by Greece, which, as claimed, seeks to create a fait accompli amid international developments and tensions in the Middle East.
Some analyses claim that Greece is trying to “besiege” Turkey, referring to the presence of Greek military assets from Thrace to Cyprus. At the same time, reference is made to Athens’ cooperation with other countries in the region, such as France and Israel, as well as to recent diplomatic contacts.
Turkish media, including Hürriyet, report that “Greece is attempting to create a fait accompli and is now preparing for a new violation of international law,” citing the Treaty of Lausanne for Lemnos and the Treaty of Paris for Karpathos, falsely arguing that these islands should remain demilitarized.
At the same time, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed concern about these specific moves, while in Turkish public discourse, the discussion is also linked to the broader geopolitical situation in the region.
At the same time, analysts note that Turkey interprets developments mainly through the prism of Greek-Turkish relations, despite the broader international crisis affecting security across the Eastern Mediterranean.
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