A viral video of Naval Academy students chanting ‘Cyprus is Greek’ and cursing Turkey during Athens’ March 25 parade has sparked outrage. Military probes and opposition criticism follow, with disciplinary measures looming.
Tag: Turkey
A criminal organization illegally trafficking migrants from Turkey to Greece via Kos was dismantled on March 24, 2025, following a joint operation by the Coast Guard and EYP. One leader, a 44-year-old Georgian, was arrested in Salamis, while a Turkish national remains at large. The network, uncovered after a yacht carrying 74 foreigners was intercepted, involved at least twelve members and sophisticated smuggling operations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that “the European Union cannot exist without Turkey,” highlighting Turkey’s critical role in security and beyond, while accusing the opposition of inciting violence amid protests over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. He also expressed optimism about a $100 billion trade target with the US following a conversation with President Donald Trump.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas has rallied behind Istanbul’s Ekrem Imamoglu, declaring, “Ekrem, you are not alone,” as he joins 14 European mayors in condemning political crackdowns in Turkey. With a signed declaration and a call for a European Socialist Party resolution, Doukas demands Imamoglu’s release and an end to attacks on democracy, uniting cities like Athens and Paris in a stand for justice.
Thousands rally in Istanbul following Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest on March 19, defying a ban on gatherings and calling the charges a political ploy. As Turkey bans short-selling stocks to calm markets, the unrest signals deeper instability.
On March 23, 2025, Turkey arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Erdogan, on corruption charges widely viewed as a political tactic to sideline him before the 2028 presidential race. The move, following a raid on his home, sparked massive protests and drew condemnation from the Council of Europe, amplifying fears over Turkey’s democratic decline. Despite legal challenges and a revoked diploma, Imamoglu’s CHP party rallies behind him as Erdogan’s grip tightens.
Greece has extended a visa program for Turkish nationals by one year, allowing visits to 12 Aegean Sea islands for up to seven days. Initially launched in December 2023, the policy, now running until April 2026, has issued over 100,000 visas since March 2024, fostering ties between the NATO allies and historic rivals amid ongoing efforts to ease tensions.
On Saturday, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu will face a prosecutor and judge, igniting outrage and protests across Turkey. The opposition’s “night of democracy” rally drew thousands to denounce his arrest, defying President Erdogan’s warnings against “street terrorism.” A decision on Imamoglu’s detention looms as political tensions escalate
Following a phone call with Turkish President Erdogan, Trump is reportedly considering lifting sanctions and approving F-35 sales to Turkey, alongside F-16 upgrades, contingent on Turkey relinquishing its Russian S-400 systems. The move could mark a significant thaw in U.S.-Turkey defense ties
A 57-year-old Queensland man faces charges for allegedly helping Sayit Erhan Akca, a suspected drug smuggler tied to the Dural caravan fake terror plot, flee Australia in 2023. Police say the escape involved a boat journey from Thursday Island to Phuket, part of a broader organized crime scheme linked to antisemitic hoaxes across Sydney.
The European Commission has extended the express visa program for Turkish citizens visiting Greece’s Aegean islands for another year, starting April 1, 2025. The seven-day visas, issued at island ports, now include Patmos and Samothrace alongside ten other islands, boosting tourism and strengthening ties between the two nations.
Thousands of supporters of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) have gathered for the second consecutive day outside the Istanbul Municipality to show their support for Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, who was arrested on charges of corruption and terrorism. The rallies are expected to continue until at least Sunday.
In a shocking turn of events, a football match at the Turkish Commando Training Center in Isparta spiraled into chaos as Somali soldiers clashed with their Turkish trainers. The violent brawl left 51 Somalis injured, one critically, amid rumors of insults igniting the fray in Turkey’s famed “City of Roses.”
A Greek consortium tasked with constructing Athens’ new metro Line 4 has sparked outrage after digging a 160-meter tunnel in the wrong direction under Katehaki Avenue. The blunder, revealed by Communist Party MP Christos Katsotis, has raised safety fears over potential subsidence near hospitals and public buildings. Overseen by Elliniko Metro, the error went unnoticed for six months, prompting fierce criticism of the AVAX-Ghello-Alstom consortium and government oversight, though officials insist the mistake poses no major structural risk.
Tripoli appears to follow the beginning of the median line between Greece and Libya rather…
On March 19, 2025, Istanbul erupted in chaos as authorities seized the construction company of jailed Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading opposition figure, following his arrest on charges of bribery and terrorism ties. The move, branded a “coup attempt” by CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, ignited massive protests despite a ban, with police clashing with crowds near Taksim Square. As Turkey braces for further unrest, Imamoglu’s wife vowed to resist what she called a plot to erase the nation’s “future president.”
Arms companies from the US, UK, and Turkey will be excluded from a new €150bn…
The European Union will exclude defense companies from the USA, UK, and Turkey from a new €150 billion defense fund unless their countries sign security agreements with Brussels. Open only to EU firms and third countries with defense pacts, the initiative also bans advanced weapons systems like the U.S.-made Patriot, pushing a “Buy European” approach amid concerns over U.S. reliability.
The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has triggered strong reactions from foreign governments, with Germany calling it a “serious setback” for Turkish democracy and France expressing deep concern over its potential consequences. Amid allegations of fraud and bribery, the detention of the prominent opposition figure, seen as a key rival to President Erdogan, has intensified political tensions in Turkey.
The Greek government is set to resume surveys in April for the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), a subsea electricity cable linking Greece and Cyprus, despite technical delays and Turkish opposition. The project aims to enhance energy security and integrate renewable energy in the Eastern Mediterranean, with Greece asserting its rights in international waters.