Greece, Turkey Clash Over Zourafa Incident

The Aegean Sea became a stage for heightened tensions after a collision between a Greek Coast Guard vessel and a Turkish fishing boat near the islet of Zourafa.

The incident has sparked a diplomatic spat, with both Greece and Turkey offering conflicting accounts of the event.

Greece asserts that the collision transpired within Greek territorial waters near Zourafa. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis firmly contested the Turkish narrative, emphasizing, "The islet of Zourafa is clearly within Greek territorial waters."

The Greek Coast Guard maintains they approached the Turkish fishing boat for a routine inspection, a standard practice when encountering vessels in their jurisdiction. However, according to the Greek account, the situation escalated when the Turkish vessel abruptly altered its course, resulting in the collision.

Turkey's Coast Guard presents a starkly contrasting viewpoint. Their official statement claims the incident occurred in Turkish waters north of Gökçeada Island. Notably, the Turkish narrative omits any mention of the Greek Coast Guard's attempted inspection.

Thankfully, no reports of injuries or significant damage to either vessel have emerged. However, the conflicting narratives highlight the longstanding tensions between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea. It remains to be seen how this dispute will be resolved, and whether further diplomatic efforts will be undertaken.