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The joint military drills involving Greece, Egypt, the UAE and France concluded, just days before Turkey begins its round of exercises in Northern Cyprus on September 6th.
Forces of Turkey and Turkish Cyprus will start an annual five-day military drill, according to Turkey’s Defense Ministry.
The ministry said in a statement that the annual exercise is aimed at improving mutual training, cooperation, and interoperability between the Turkish Cypriot Peace Force Command and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Security Forces Command.
The exercise will be held with air, naval, and land elements from Turkey, the statement added.
Separately, it should be reminded that Turkey issued a navtex saying that live-fire naval drills would be carried out involving Russian warships in the eastern Mediterranean.
The navigational notice issued on September 2nd said the Russian exercises will take place Sept. 8-22 and Sept. 17-25 in areas of the Mediterranean where Turkish seismic research vessels are operating.
In Athens, Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said the planned Russian exercises were being “monitored by all the countries in the region, as well as our NATO allies and European Union partners.”
On September 4th, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said on Friday he delivered a letter on Turkey’s activities in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, asking him to forward it to the UN Security Council.
Dendias said he met with Guterres in New York and discussed developments in the region and the Cyprus issue.
“He gave me the opportunity to explain to him what is happening in the Eastern Mediterranean, that Turkish illegality is creating problems for stability and peace in the region, and we also talked about the Greek-Egyptian agreement, a copy of which I gave to him,” he said in a series of tweets on his official account.
He also said he spoke by phone with Philip T. Reeker, the acting assistant secretary in charge of European and Eurasian Affairs on developments in the eastern Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, the EU mulls how to diffuse the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean – German Chancellor Angela Merkel is looking to mediate, once again.
European Council President Charles Michel said on September 4 that European Union leaders plan to adopt a “carrot and stick” strategy opposite Turkey at a summit on September 24 and 25 and proposed a multilateral conference focusing on sea borders in the East Med including NATO.
Michel underlined the EU’s “full solidarity opposite Athens and Nicosia” in the face of Turkey’s activities.
“We will identify tools in our external policy, a sticks and carrots approach – what tools to use to improve the relationship and what tools to react [with] if we are not being respected,” said Michel, who is expected to visit Greece and Cyprus before the summit. Such a summit could be “the best way to de-escalate in the region and offer a channel for dialogue,” Michel said. “What is happening, what has been happening the last few weeks, cannot go on.”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appealed to Turkey to stop its provocations.
“From all the many over-the-top statements that Mr Erdogan has made, there is only one I retain, the one about dialogue, and I respond with these six clear words: Stop the provocations, start the talks,” Mitsotakis said.
“Turkey’s illegal activities demand an international reaction,” Mitsotakis said.
On September 3rd, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said that Greece and Turkey had agreed to hold talks on diffusing the situation.
“Following my discussions with Greek and Turkish leaders, the two allies have agreed to enter into technical talks at NATO to establish mechanisms for military de-confliction to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the eastern Mediterranean,” he said.
“Greece and Turkey are valued allies, and NATO is an important platform for consultations on all issues that affect our shared security.”
Greece denied it had agreed to hold NATO-brokered talks with Turkey, according to media reports quoting Greek foreign ministry sources as saying that “de-escalation would only be achieved with the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish ships from the Greek continental shelf”.
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“The joint military drills involving Greece, Egypt, the UAE and France concluded”
UAE…I can see them being there because of Egypt and the relationship between Turkey and UAE is “bad”. I don’t see UAE fight tho…
Neither did the turkish hawk operators in Libya ?
This barking contest will end up a farting contest soon enough.
You are already absolute champion in farting a hot air of your “thoughts” in public and with no excuse shitocracy….
Picking on another sh Xt head? ?
“EU Ramp Up Diplomatic Pressure” is by far more important than Turk drills.
Lot of bark and no bite that is what Turkey is opposed to EU ! Hardly worthy paying any attention on that “drills”.
What? So Erdogan is full of sh Xt?
Look who is talking citizen of the most indebted country in history of the plane! Go kill yourself you idiot !
Turkey’s Erdogan is finished … his state will be bankrupt
The USA isn’t indebted to anyone but itself …. lol
Everyone else needs to borrow … the USA prints …
next
As long as Chinese loans exist Turkey is not dead only when and IF China say so ! If they could borrow to Iran 400 BILLION lately they can do some gesture more for Turks as well
good thing Chinese hate Turks also then! something about those gypsies uyghurs
The thing is that Chinese do not mix business with their preferences. Even if they do not like Turks at all because of Turk support for Uighur Islamic terrorism in Syria, they will not block their own interests because of that.
Turkey is part of the “Silk road” route, so is the Greece as well…. That’s why countries like that get preferential credits from China…. because of their “Silk road” mega project !
Now the Muslims are hiding behind China’s ??? … lol
Uighurs be damned … pmsl
China will do as they wish to their exclusive benefit … eh?
Ask Pakistan / Sri Lanka and African states who have been ravaged by ‘predatory loans’ … Remind me are Chinese Jewish? pmsl
Muslims just like everybody else do what they must do if they don’t have other alternatives. Iran was cornered by decades of sanctions and China able and willing to help. Nobody is forced to take Chinese loan It is their money and they decide price of that money – take it or leave it ! While centuries of Anglo-Saxon usury is still in fresh memory! Just to mention the last one called “Breton Woods ” agreement of the financial neocolonialism that is today enforced on countries by US weapons only! So you are most definitely last to give lectures and moralize!!!
You’re right … the Iranian leadership and Erdogan are without alternatives … lol
So …. Chinese ??? and a slow death … by a 1000 cuts
Got it
You didn’t get anything and you never will, because you think you are the smartest. People like you are useless for anything including to talk to… Good bye
Interesting. So Greece is having drills, Turkey responds with drills. And while everyone is busy keeping an eye on each others drills, the turkish exploration vessel continues with its own drills:)))) Sneaky guy this Erdogan:))
It’s an exploration vessel. A drilling ship trying to drill in the same area will sleep with the fishes in a matter of days.
its a pun
will sleep with the fishes in a matter of days!!!The last time Greece attacked Turkey ended up on the sort end of the stick.Eu will cancel the loans,charity,funds you be up the creek without a paddle.
If Greece did that, there would be a lot of dead Greeks afterwards. Either way, go ahead Greece, can your countrie’s budget sustain a prolonged conflict ? Arent you dirt poor already ?
Neither side’s budget could sustain conflict for more than a few weeks. That’s why if there is, it’s not going to last that long.
Greece’s economy will continue functioning even in case of war since it’s mostly a service economy. In fact agro and manufacturing may pick up, since Greece could attract investment now heading to Turkey.
If EU just as much as imposes tarifs on imports from Turkey, Turkey is toast financially (50% of its exports head to the EU). In case of conflict that’s the minimum, they might even be embargoed.
In fact, I would be more worried about all the turkish refugees fleeing to Greece, than the economy.
I would be more worried about all the turkish refugees fleeing to Greece, than the economy. after the 1974 embargo no-one fleed..If EU just as much as imposes tarifs on imports from Turkey, Turkey is toast financially they will loose 85 million market forever..strange sentences like last minute reservations,what if scenarios..
Turks will stop buying EU stuff because the EU will impose tarifs? I don’t think so.
Even if they do, for most EU countries turkey is something like 2-3% of their exports. Big deal.
EU wasn’t afraid to lose a 150 mln. (more affluent) people market imposing sanctions on Russia over non-EU member Ukraine. Why do you think they’ll be of losing a 85 mln. one?
sanctions caused and will cause to Eu countries economic damage as well. Sanctions doesnt work in the long run.Turks will stop buying EU stuff because the EU will impose tarifs?of course we wont buy anything. Very radical scenario you are drawing
” Neither side’s budget could sustain conflict for more than a few weeks. That’s why if there is, it’s not going to last that long. ”
True, but whose economy is bigger / stronger at the moment ? Who has a bigger more robust military ? Whose military has actuall rcent combat experience ? Which country has a ” 5th column ” of combat age Muslim ” refugees ” sitting around in camps waiting for ” action ” ?
At the moment: 1 EUR = 8.8215 TRY Last year at this time: 1 EUR = 6.1491 TRY
There’s nothing robust re: turkish military. It’s combat experience consists of artillery shelling and drone usage vs. unorganised third-rate militias.
And the generals are not stupid enough as to try a land invasion into Greece or an amphibious operation against a guarded island.
Re: illegal immigrants, if Greece enters a war situation they’ll all become officially refugees (the irony!) and head off to EU or beg to be sent back to Syria/Iraq/Pakistan ?
never judge a book by its cover..after the coup legs,arms are broken ı agree…but you are really far from the field..artillery shelling..it is priceless to calibrate all sorts of howitzers,mlrs(107mm,122mm,300 mm)..with %90 accuracy third-rate militiası am sure you will flee to elsewhere when you see a third-rate militia..especially ısıs is a really expert at assymetric warfare…drone usagewith support of land-based ew they can do miracles,can destroy short-range defense systems,howitzers even maneouvring units..we have a serious land-war and asyymetric experience..ps:war is not gonna happen so these are all non-sense..
When there is 0% chance of counter-battery fire, and given the extensive info on the enemy through drone reconnaissance, 90% accuracy is a disgrace for howitzers!
Turkish military hasn’t fought a single battle vs. isis, in fact they’ve been supporting them since 2014. Instead, their experience stems from fighting the PKK, the YPG and the SDF. Many times side-by-side with jihadists, acting as their artillery and air-force. I don’t discard this experience, but I wouldn’t be so proud about beating forces whose fiercest weapon is anti-tank missiles.
When Russia decided to spank them in Syria, erdo went to Moscow crying.
The Greek army is instead an organised force, with a range of lethal weapons and the experience to use them. And in this fight we won’t be alone.
As to whether a war will break out, I hope not. But it would be foolish to discount the possibility, when the turkish side is openly threatening with war daily.
When there is 0% chance of counter-battery fire, and given the extensive info on the enemy through drone reconnaissance, 90% accuracy is a disgrace for howitzers!saa,sdf has howitzers…%90 accuracy is a big deal.Turkish military hasn’t fought a single battle vs. isis, in fact they’ve been supporting them since 2014.please do your homework 2016 el-bab we had a a battle with ısıs…we’ve never supported them but there had been moments when we close our eyes..example:kobani battle ısıs vs ypg..When Russia decided to spank them in Syria, erdo went to Moscow cryingRussia is invited,legitimate when Us switched to plan B(decision to work with ypg there was no other choices left..The Greek army is instead an organised force, with a range of lethal weapons and the experience to use themı dont want to mention about anything your army..
” turkish military. It’s combat experience consists of artillery shelling and drone usage vs. unorganised third-rate militias. ”
Isnt the Greek air force instant toast due to Turkey’s amazing current s-400 ? They have another on the way also. Whats Greece going to do ?
Far from it.
Since both air-forces fly more or less the same aircraft, the Turkish army cannot use the S-400 without endangering their own air force.
AFAIK they’ve only deployed the system near Ankara (to protect the sultan’s palace ?), which means it’s going to be a non-issue in a conflict over the East Med or even over the Aegean.
Instead, Greece has one of the densest anti-aircraft networks in the world (save Russia/China) with multiple patriot, hawk, tor-m1, sa-8 and even S-300 systems in place.
Very naive answer, aircraft have ” friend or foe ” identification . Do you actually believe Russian hardware can be fooled so easily ? Also, the S-400 is not there to protect his palace, thats just silly. Finally, another s-400 is on the way, while the current one can be moved close to thwe coast to cover most of Greece .
I’m suprised at you, all of a sudden, Russian s-400 hardware is going to be easily defeated by NATO ? Maybe, maybe not , but you didnt espouse that opinion earlier.
Well, it was certainly fooled by the IAF when the Syrians accidentally downed a Russian aircraft two years ago.
Even if they place the s-400 radar literally next to the waves, it won’t cover most of Greece. Moreover, the radar may have a targeting range of 390km, but taking the radar horizon into account this shrinks significantly for low-flying aircraft (down to 50-100km) Given proper reconnaissance, they can be taken out by HAF aircraft armed with SCALP missiles.
The Syrians never turned on the s-400 as they’re not allowed to by Russia.
As for your other points, I guess we’ll all find out.
Who’s being naive now…
I dont even know what thats supposed to address.
Hours. In a matter of hours not days.
Nowadays the state actors in East Mediterranean engaged in war of words and diplomacy. Expect the worst tomorrow.