Turkish National Defence Minister Hulusi Akar blames Athens’ “expansionist and aggressive policies” for upsetting battle whereas reaffirming Ankara’s dedication to “peace and stability”.
(Arif Akdoğan / AA)
Türkiye’s defence minister has mentioned neighbouring Greece is “fuelling instability” within the area whereas reaffirming Ankara’s dedication to “peace and stability in the Aegean.”
National Defence Minister Hulusi Akar made the assertion on Wednesday following his conferences with counterparts from Georgia and Azerbaijan.
“Unfortunately, our neighbour Greece continues its expansionist and aggressive policies with its provocative actions and discourse that fuels instability,” Akar mentioned.
He mentioned Türkiye stays open to dialogue, however is not going to take any hasty actions on points associated to Cyprus island or the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas.
He additionally denounced the current intervention of Greek warplanes in a NATO coaching mission over the Aegean, claiming that such “hostile” steps are proof of Athens’ disregard of NATO’s fundamental ideas.
“We anticipate an neutral, goal, cheap, and logical strategy from our different NATO allies, particularly the US, on this matter,” he burdened.
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Strained ties
Türkiye and Greece have been at odds for many years over a variety of points, together with the place their continental cabinets begin and finish, vitality exploration rights within the Eastern Mediterranean, overflights within the Aegean Sea and Cyprus island.
Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated “provocations” by Greece within the area in current months, together with arming islands close to Turkish shores which might be demilitarised below treaty obligations.
It says that such strikes frustrate its good-faith efforts for peace.
Last yr, the 2 nations had agreed to renew exploratory talks to handle their very own variations within the Mediterranean, however little progress has been made thus far.
In 2020, Türkiye and Greece got here near a confrontation over a drilling ship dispute within the contested Mediterranean waters. The state of affairs later eased, and the neighbours resumed bilateral talks in January 2021.
Meanwhile, on the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye, Akar additionally mentioned that Türkiye expects “positive and concrete steps” from the US.
Ankara has hailed Washington’s current transfer to exclude sure restrictive circumstances on the sale of F-16s from the ultimate model of the US defence finances invoice.
Ankara requested F-16s and modernisation kits in October 2021.
The $6 billion deal would come with the sale of 40 jets, in addition to modernisation kits for 79 warplanes that the Turkish Air Force already has in its stock.
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Source: TRTWorld and companies
