Türkiye threatens Greece over militarisation of Aegean islands

Turkish National Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has threatened Greece with "pre-emptive actions" if Athens fails to meet the requirements for the demilitarisation of islands in the eastern Aegean Sea.

"Doesn't the installation of weapons in front of our noses pose a threat to our country? Does it not give the right to self-defence?" Gazeta.ru reports citing the minister.

Akar accused Greece of "aggressive rhetoric" against Ankara, saying that a five-fold increase in its defence budget indicates that the country is "plotting something" against Türkiye.

In addition, according to the Turkish defence minister, Greece is doing "everything possible" to prevent the sale of weapons and military equipment to Türkiye, including American F-16 fighter jets and German submarines.

He also accused Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias of "using aggressive rhetoric and aggressive actions" aimed at spoiling "the potential positive climate that can be created between the two countries".