New Turkish provocations have emerged. According to SKAI's correspondent in Istanbul, politicians and media from the neighboring country have described Pserimos, Kinaro, and Levitha as "Turkish islands."
They brought to light a visit by the Greek Minister of Defense to these border islands in September. "Dendias violated the Treaty of Lausanne," they claimed. "While we were engaged with students in our military schools, the Greek Minister of Defense visited these islands and violated the Treaty of Lausanne. He toured by helicopter to islands such as Pserimos, Kinaro, and Levitha, posed with Greek soldiers, and made some statements. He did this near Turkey, constituting a border violation by the Greek Minister, and yet the Ministry of Defense remains silent."
On September 26, 2024, the Greek Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, accompanied by the Chief of the Armed Forces and the Chief of the Army, toured the islands located within what Turkey considers its territorial waters. He posed with soldiers stationed on these islands, allegedly in violation of the Treaty of Lausanne. The opposition is criticizing the Ministry of Defense's silence, reported the NOW TV network. "Dendias visited the Turkish islands that are 'under occupation,' which are Pserimos, Kinaro, and Levitha, and also violated Turkish airspace," the report adds.
"The Greek minister enters our airspace, flies over the islands, and demonstrates a show of force," stated Eylem Ertugrul, a member of parliament from the main opposition, the Kemalist Republican People's Party.
