Athens, Greece - Despite the Greek government's optimistic rhetoric about improved relations with Turkey, tensions between the two neighbours remain high.
In a recent incident, Turkish Coast Guard vessels approached a Greek fishing boat in the Aegean Sea near the disputed Imia islets. The Turkish vessels ordered the Greek fishermen to leave the area, and they even brandished their weapons.
The Greek fishermen refused to comply and reported the incident to the Greek Coast Guard. The Turkish vessels eventually withdrew.
In December and January, a series of incidents occur in the sea area of Imia, known as the "sea bream season".
This incident is the latest in a series of provocations by Turkey in the Aegean Sea. In recent months, Turkish ships have repeatedly violated Greek airspace and territorial waters.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also repeatedly threatened to invade Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.
The Greek government has condemned the Turkish provocations and called on Turkey to respect international law.
However, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has also said that he will not block the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. This decision has been criticized by many Greeks, who believe that it will embolden Turkey to continue its aggressive behaviour.
The incident with the Greek fishermen is a reminder that the Greek-Turkish dispute is far from resolved. How the two countries can overcome their differences and build a more stable relationship is unclear.
