Erdogan accuses Greece of plans to destabilize region
3 Min Read
Tensions between Turkey and Greece are on the rise.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, Russia, September 2021 (EPA)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed on Thursday that Greece's moves against the Turkish air forces in the Aegean Sea were a part of a plan to destabilize the situation in the region.
CNN Turk claimed on Sunday, citing Turkish defense ministry sources, that Greece has deployed an S-300 air defense system to track Turkish air forces F-16 aircraft performing a reconnaissance flight 10,000 feet west of Rhodes Island on August 23.
Turkish media reported that "despite these hostile actions, the planes fulfilled their planned tasks and safely returned to their bases." Turkey's assertions that Athens deployed its S-300 system in Crete against Turkey's F-16s are "myths" designed to create a hostile attitude toward Greece, according to Greek Defense Ministry sources.
"We are all well aware of the true reasons behind attempts to infringe on Turkey's rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are also aware of the goals of the forces and circles that today arm terrorists near Turkey's borders free of charge, although once refusing to hand over weapons in exchange for money to Ankara," Turkish news agency Anadolu quoted Erdogan as saying.
Read next: Turkey accuses Greece of harassing Turkish F-16s
Erdogan slammed Greece's actions against the Turkish air forces in the Aegean Sea as a "provocation", adding that these were "a part of a plan to destabilize the situation in the region."
In response to challenges to national security, the President stated that the country relies on the development of the local defense sector.
A Haber TV channel claimed on Wednesday, citing Turkish Ministry of Defense sources, that Ankara planned to share radar recordings of Greece's suspected use of S-300 air defense systems in pursuit of Turkish aircraft with NATO member nations.
Ankara to expose Greek violations
Yesterday, Ankara announced it intends to share with NATO member states radar recordings of Greece's alleged use of S-300 air defense systems in the pursuit of Turkish aircraft, A Haber TV channel reported, citing sources in the Ministry of Defense.
Turkey's defense ministry will send the radar data of the Greek S-300 air defense systems escorting the Turkish F-16 jets to the NATO General Secretariat, as well as to all 30 allied countries, the TV channel reported, claiming that Greece continues to violate the Turkish waters and airspace.
On August 23, Greece's S-300 missile system on Crete put a lock on Turkish F-16 jets flying west of Rhodes, at 10,000 feet, according to Turkish Defense Ministry sources.
According to the sources, the action was "incompatible with the spirit of (NATO) alliance" and amounted to "hostile acts" under NATO's rules of engagement. "Despite this hostile action, (Turkish) jets completed their planned missions and returned to their base safely."
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