Turkey slams Greece over naval manoeuvres

Turkey has warned that Greece must halt its “provocation” and “harassment” in the Aegean Sea. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu made his comment when speaking to journalists in Antalya, referring to recent military manoeuvres by the Greek Navy.

“Greece needs to give up its provocation for the two countries to solve their problems through dialogue,” said Cavusoglu. He accused his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, of speaking behind his back after joint press conferences following their recent meetings.

The two NATO member countries have been in dispute over their respective continental shelves in the Mediterranean, energy resources in the region, the divided island of Cyprus and the status of some islands in the Aegean Sea. Tensions escalated following intensified mutual military threats last year, prompting NATO to intervene.

Cavusoglu pointed out that the two countries have engaged in dialogue since tension rose in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, stressing that there was a “sincere determination to solve problems through dialogue.”

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