Athens has issued a stern condemnation of Ankara following a significant escalation in aerial provocations over the Aegean Sea. The Greek government reported an unprecedented surge in Turkish fighter jet incursions into its national airspace, labelling the acts a severe breach of sovereignty.
The Greek foreign ministry released an official statement declaring the violations "unprecedented and unacceptable". The incidents, which occurred on Friday, involved over 30 Turkish flyovers above the eastern Greek islands of Farmakonisi, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, and Ikaria. Crucially, many of these flights were conducted without the transponders that allow for civilian aircraft identification, raising serious safety concerns for commercial aviation routes in the region.
A Pattern of Provocation
This recent spike in tensions is not an isolated event. It is deeply intertwined with the long-standing and complex dispute between the two NATO members over maritime boundaries and sovereign rights in the energy-rich eastern Mediterranean.
Ankara has consistently contested Greece's legal claim to a 10-mile airspace zone around its islands, often citing what it calls "grey zones" of undetermined sovereignty. This stance is firmly rejected by Athens and the broader international community, which upholds the treaties defining Greece's borders.
The Wider Mediterranean Standoff
The aerial confrontations are a symptom of a broader geopolitical struggle. The core issue remains the fierce competition over oil and gas exploration rights. Turkey's deployment of a survey vessel, the Oruc Reis, escorted by warships into contested waters in 2020 brought the two nations to the brink of direct conflict.
While both sides have since engaged in tentative diplomatic talks to de-escalate the situation, incidents like the recent flyovers demonstrate how quickly détente can unravel. The relationship remains fraught with historical animosity and mutual suspicion, making the Aegean a potential flashpoint for the military alliance.
