"Greece vs. Turkey! Indians panicked: Altay Tank is as powerful as M1 Abrams!" This is the headline of the Turkish newspaper Yeni Akit, which presents the new domestically produced Altay main battle tank. The headline is accompanied by comments showing Greece and India supposedly in awe of its capabilities.
"Turkey's first indigenous and national main battle tank, the Altay, caused panic in Greece and India. The Indian media, which gave wide coverage to the Altay, said that the government should form an alliance with Greece against Turkey and support Greece," writes the Turkish media outlet.
"Turkey, which has been making steady strides towards its goal of full independence in the defence industry, continues to inspire fear. India has now aligned itself with Greece, which looks at every defence industry product that Turkey produces with envy," Yeni Akit claimed.
The Turkish newspaper then quotes an Indian report which, according to the Turks, states: "In India-based NBT news, it was said that 'Turkey has produced a main battle tank for the first time in its modern history. This means that the Turkish army will use many Altay tanks. Until now, Turkey has depended on the tanks of Western countries. The construction of this new tank is linked to the expansion of the Turkish president's military industry. Greece is at greater risk because of the tank Altay, which also has a serious dispute with Turkey. Greece is a friend and strategic ally of India. It is also considered that Turkey can use its new tank. In such a case, India can help its friend'."
The Turkish publication then attempts to answer the question of whether India would side with Greece in the event that Ankara launched an attack.
"Turkey's biggest enemy, Greece, is India's close friend in the Mediterranean," writes Yeni Akit, citing the Indian publication again: "India and Greece have strong defence cooperation. Indian warships often stop in Greece during their visits to the Mediterranean. In such a case, India can come forward and save its friend Greece from Turkey's main tank (i.e. the Altay).''
The vice-president of the Kemalists is "threatened" by Thymaina
Turkey feels threatened by the recent Greek military exercises in the Evros and the Aegean, especially the landing exercises on islands. Greece's military exercises have been characterised as "provocative" and "incendiary".
The "Kataigis-24" exercise in the Aegean caused a strong reaction from the vice president of the main opposition party (CHP), retired Vice Admiral Yankı Bağcıoğlu.
According to him, Greece proceeded with training for the recapture of the island of Thymaina, raising issues of sovereignty.
"Greece conducted training to recapture the occupied island in the island complex of Thymaina in the Aegean Sea. Thymaina and some islands in this area are in the status of islands whose sovereignty has not been ceded to Greece," he said delusionally about Thymaina, which has 191 Greek inhabitants.
"They perform similar training quite often and systematically," he said, among other things.
"The positive atmosphere is broken," says Haber 7
Under the title "Arrogant move by Greece! This is how they spoiled the positive atmosphere, a step that will anger Ankara..." Haber7 accuses Greece of undermining the good climate with Turkey:
"Greece carried out a border crossing exercise at the point ground zero of the border with Turkey. The exercise, in which tanks and helicopters were used, was watched by observers from six different countries. Relations between Turkey and Greece, which had deteriorated in recent years, began to move again in a positive direction. However, the Greek side carried out an exercise that will overshadow the positive climate of the new period," claimed the outlet.
Sözcü sees a threat to Evros
The "River Route" exercise in Thrace was similarly treated by the opposition newspaper Sözcü as part of a plan by US-backed Greece to invade Turkish territory: "Greece, spoiled by the US, conducted an exercise aimed at crossing the Evros to the zero point of the border and to enter our territory. The USA, Egypt, Armenia, Bulgaria, Italy and Cyprus attended the exercise.
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