Emboldened by the fact that the Greek Navy and Air Force have not taken effective measures to expel Turkey's Oruç Reis research vessel, which is accompanied by a small armada of Turkish warships, from Greece's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Turks are celebrating it as a "victory" for their armed forces.
There's only one way to get rid of a bellicose enemy that does not recognise International Law and does not respond to reason.
War!
Both the Hellenic Navy and Air Force have the means to sink that group of Turkish ships; an action that will lead to an all-out war between the two neighbours, which will no doubt cause thousands of casualties on both sides.
War, should be the last resort, not the first. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his regime may need it to distract the attention of his people from the failing economy in their country, but the Greeks do not and for them it will remain the last resort.
For now, and while all the Turks are doing in the Greek EEZ is aimlessly sailing around like tourists in the clear blue Greek waters, the Greek government is exploring every diplomatic avenue to avert another catastrophic war.
If, Greek efforts do not meet with a positive response from parties that are in a position to influence Turkey, parties like the US and Germany, and "force" them to abandon their aggressive stance, then the "last resort" becomes the only option left for the Greeks and their military.
That will be unfortunate for all concerned.
Greek aversion to war should not be mistaken for hesitation. The Turkish military is not what frightens the Greeks, war in general does as it should to every rational person.
The Turkish leadership does not want talks with the Greeks because the Turkish unreasonable demands on Greek sovereignty cannot be discussed. Greek territorial waters are non-negotiable. The Greeks have invited the Turkish government to take the matter to the Hague if they feel they have a legitimate claim. They won't because they don't. International Law of the Sea is very clear to everyone... but the Turks.
After boldly declaring that they are the "Masters of the Eastern Mediterranean" and that nothing can take place in their "Blue Motherland" without their consent, the mini-Sultan took a lot of stick from the political opposition when Greece and Egypt agreed on the division of their respective EEZ's. This agreement between Greece and Egypt, that conforms to International Maritime Law, cancelled out Turkey's illegal one with the Muslim Brotherhood of Tripoli that swallowed up Greek islands as if they did not exist.
War between Greece and Turkey, may prove inevitable, but before we rush into it, we owe it to our families to do our best to avoid it.
No shot has been fired in anger yet. Hopefully this will not happen.
Published by Emilios George Ades Georgiades.