Turkey warns Greece against militarizing Aegean islands

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated that Turkey will not accept the militarization of islands with demilitarized status, escalating rhetoric against Greece. He stated Turkey has taken careful, persistent actions on this matter, sometimes without publicizing them. Fidan said the region needs peace, not armaments, and accused Greek politicians of persisting in their stance ahead of an election climate. He warned that Turkish armed forces and coast guard are on high alert, hoping no one takes reckless action, and that Turkey's seriousness and strength are known. He added that Turkey has close friends among Greek politicians and monitors the situation at an official level, hoping certain statements remain rhetorical and limited to political expediency.