Aegean Tensions Escalate: Turkey and Greece in Naval Standoff

Turkey deployed five warships near Greek territorial waters between Kassos and Karpathos islands in the southeastern Aegean. This move was justified by Ankara on grounds of alleged violations of the Turkish continental shelf by the presence of the Italian-flagged research vessel Ievoli Relume.

The vessel was conducting surveys for future underwater sea cable installations as part of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project linking Crete and Cyprus. Turkey does not acknowledge the continental shelf rights of islands.

The standoff initially involved two Turkish frigates and a corvette against a single Greek gunboat. The escalation ensued with the arrival of two Turkish missile cutters, prompting Greece to dispatch a frigate in response.

Meanwhile, tensions were further fueled by Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis’ televised remarks praising the capabilities of the advanced F-35 aircraft, which Greece plans to acquire from the US. Georgiadis referenced past Turkish threats and remarked on the comparative strength of the Greek and Turkish air forces, sparking controversy and media reactions in Turkey, who labeled his statements as provocative.

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