Worldwide media reports claim intelligence officials have warned of the Turkish government's secret plan of allowing 3,000 refugees into Greece each day.
Greek analysts suggest thousands of dinghies and motorboats are already gathered along the Turkish coast, ready to set sail as the refugee deal agreed between Turkey and Germany looks as though it is coming to an end.
Turkish President Erdogan has threatened to open the borders if the European Union continued to stop talks on allowing Turkey to enter the Union. The European Parliament voted to end such discussions, due to its concerns following an attempted military coup in July.
"If you go any further, these border gates will be opened. Neither me nor my people will be affected by these dry threats. It wouldn't matter if all of you approved the vote,” said Erdogan.
A deal, which was reached earlier this year meant any refugee who arrived on Greek shores would be sent back to Turkey in exchange for EU member countries accepting another refugee from a Turkish camp.
Greek intelligence expert Athanassios Drougas recently told The Times UK, “No one is underestimating Mr Erdogan and his unpredictability these days. These plans, along with explicit threats that the Turkish president has made in recent weeks, have Greece’s joint chiefs of staff seriously concerned.”
“They are fearful and they have told the political leadership here that if Turkey opens the floodgates yet again, Greece, in its current state of financial and social distress, will not be able to withstand the shock. It will spell war or wreak the havoc of one,” he added.
