Greek-Turkish Tensions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the first foreign leader to call and congratulate Mitsotakis, even before the final results were in.

'We seek peace and security but under no circumstances will we back off from defending our sovereign rights. We wish to avoid tensions,' the Greek defence minister said after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar at a Nato meeting.

Instead of constantly rushing to answer all of Erdogan’s provocations and threats, it is more effective to create the necessary conditions and strengthen the necessary alliances to confront them on our own.

Drilling for and exploiting hydrocarbons without a strong Air Force, without a battle-worthy Navy, and without credible intelligence collection networks is inconceivable in the contemporary world.

The US Ambassador said the US, EU 'share a perspective on developments in the waters off of Cyprus... and in avoiding any further provocative actions by Turkey'.

In a lengthy statement, the Defence Department clearly articulated US interests and power in the region and the crucial nature of the US-Greece military alliance.

Turkey may consider that this period is opportune for it to impose its views on the delimitation of Greece’s territorial waters and continental shelf.

'Our mission is to keep the peace, and that is why we must always be prepared for war. The danger of an accident in the Aegean is real,' said air Force General Christos Christodoulou.

A key qustion is whether Apostolakis indeed has information from intelligence services about the prospect of a Turkish landing and takeover of a Greek rock islet.

Ankara has marshaled the NAVTEX in an effort to dispute Cyprus’ EEZ and the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, the only internationally recognised state entity on the island.