ISTANBUL — Tensions between Greece and Turkey escalated Friday when a Greek Coast Guard boat pursued an inflatable dinghy within meters of the Turkish coast, prompting concerns of a diplomatic incident.
Turkish news outlet Bodrum Kent TV released a video showing the Greek vessel chasing the Zodiac-style dinghy, believed to be involved in human trafficking, in Turkish territorial waters off Akcabuk Bay, near Bodrum. The dinghy, reportedly carrying a single individual, reached shore near a holiday complex before the Greek boat abruptly ceased its pursuit and retreated.
In a statement, the Turkish Coast Guard reported, “Our assigned elements arrived immediately at the scene and confirmed that the Greek vessel quickly returned to its own territorial waters.” They added that search operations are underway to locate the individual who fled into nearby forests, suspected of being a migrant smuggler.
The Greek Coast Guard acknowledged the pursuit of a smuggling boat in the area but could not verify whether it extended into Turkish waters.
The western coast of Turkey is a common launch point for refugees attempting to reach nearby Greek islands, with the island of Kos located just about 6 kilometers (4 miles) from the incident site. The Greek Coast Guard frequently intercepts vessels involved in human trafficking, while Turkey has accused Greece of pushing such boats back into its waters.
Eyewitness Cemre Ozdemir Pekoglu recounted to the Sozcu newspaper, “I was surprised to see a Greek Coast Guard boat enter Akcabuk Bay. I noticed it was chasing a boat, then it suddenly turned back and left the bay.”
Territorial disputes in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas frequently heighten tensions between Greece and Turkey, which have faced the brink of war on multiple occasions over the past fifty years. In 2021, Turkish and Greek warships clashed during a heated disagreement over exploration rights to potential offshore energy resources.