Ankara slams Greek-French defence pact as way of ‘isolating’ Turkey.-
By The Arab Weekly,
Turkey on Friday lashed out at a multibillion-euro warship deal between France and regional foe Greece, warning the agreement would threaten regional stability by “isolating” Ankara.
France and Greece on Tuesday signed a defence and security deal worth around 3 billion euros ($3.5 billion), that will see Athens buy three French warships, an accord hailed by French President Emmanuel Macron as a major boost to the EU’s defence ambitions.
But Turkey, which has an uneasy relationship with its NATO neighbour Greece, criticised the agreement as being aimed against Ankara.
“Greece’s armament and the isolating and alienating of Turkey, instead of cooperation, is a problematic policy that will harm Greece and the EU, and that threatens regional peace and stability,” Turkey’s foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said.
The French-Greek agreement came as tensions between Athens and historic regional rival Turkey have increased in recent years over gas exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean and waters between the two countries.
In a written statement, Tanju Bilgic took aim at Greece’s Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos, who speaking on private Skai television late Thursday, said that under the Greek-French agreement, “one country will help the other with military means if the need arises.”
Asked if the mutual defence assistance also includes maritime and land, Panagiotopoulos said that it would be valid for “the entire sovereign area” of Greece.
In response, the Turkish spokesman said Greece’s effort aim to bolster what he called “maximalist maritime zone and air space claims” that were “contrary to international law”.
Bilgic also described the pact between France and Greece as a bilateral military alliance formed against fellow Atlantic alliance member Turkey “in a way that harms the NATO alliance.”
The Turkish spokesman added that Greece’s actions would only strengthen Turkey’s resolve to protect its rights in the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.
Greece and Turkey have been at loggerheads for decades over a long series of issues, including territorial rights in the Aegean Sea, maritime and aviation boundaries, and minority rights.
Last year Greek warships shadowed Turkish naval vessels escorting survey and drill ships prospecting for gas in waters where Greece and Cyprus claim exclusive economic rights. Tensions have since eased and both countries have revived talks between high-level officials aimed at resolving issues. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the next meeting would be held in the Turkish capital, Ankara on October 6.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Thursday that he has no intention of competing against Turkey in an arms race and hopes to resolve differences with its neighbor through dialogue, but that Greece must defend its territory and sovereignty.
