Turkey accuses Greece of militarising demilitarised Aegean islands

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has renewed accusations that Greece is militarising demilitarised islands in the Aegean Sea, a claim Athens rejected as part of an escalation strategy, reviving a long-running dispute between the two NATO members.

Speaking in Azerbaijan, Fidan said the militarisation of the islands constitutes “a threat to Turkey,” according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

Fidan’s remarks come as Turkey faces what Ankara considers more pressing challenges in the Middle East.

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Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Panagiotis Giannakoulias quickly rejected claims that Greece was being used as a tool to destabilise the region, saying they “have nothing to do with reality.” 

He said Greece, like any other country, ensures the defence and security of its entire territory.

Giannakoulias also reiterated that unilateral claims concerning the demilitarisation of Greek islands in the Aegean “lack any legal basis in international law and have been categorically rejected in their entirety.” 

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