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Professor on Turkey's Aegean Moves: Athens Must Prepare for Potential Incidents
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

Professor on Turkey's Aegean Moves: Athens Must Prepare for Potential Incidents

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A professor warns Greece to prepare for potential incidents amid Turkey's escalating military and diplomatic assertiveness.
  • Concerns are raised about a potential Turkish bill regarding the "Blue Homeland" doctrine, which could claim Greek islands.
  • The relocation of Patriot missile systems from Karpathos to Souda is discussed, alongside the possibility of withdrawing Greek Patriots from Saudi Arabia.

A professor of International Relations has urged Greece to remain vigilant and prepare for potential escalations, citing Turkey's increasing military and diplomatic assertiveness. The expert highlighted that Turkey is now explicitly laying claim to Greek territory, a development that necessitates heightened preparedness on Greece's part.

Significant concern has been voiced regarding a potential Turkish legislative move related to the "Blue Homeland" doctrine. This doctrine, if enacted through legislation, could potentially encompass disputed maritime zones and even claim sovereignty over numerous Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, including inhabited ones and those south of Crete like Gavdos. Such a move is described as an extremely negative development, with the professor emphasizing that the core issue with Turkey is not solely about maritime zones or continental shelves, but rather Turkey's direct claims to Greek land.

If the neighbor is strengthening, obviously for us this must be a very important factor that weighs on the scale.

— Yiannis ValinakisProfessor Yiannis Valinakis explained how Turkey's growing military and diplomatic power influences Greek decision-making.

The discussion also touched upon the strategic repositioning of Patriot missile systems. Greek Patriots were moved from Karpathos to Souda, a decision made by the Ministry of National Defense, believing they could offer greater protection to Crete. Simultaneously, there is consideration within Greece's Supreme Defense Council (KYSEA) for the potential withdrawal of Greek Patriot systems deployed in Saudi Arabia. The agreement for their deployment in Saudi Arabia is annual and subject to yearly review and renewal.

We are talking about the 150 Greek islands in the Aegean and even south of Crete, like Gavdos. Many of them inhabited, which Turkey with a law can tomorrow consider as its own. This, at least, is what the information says. This is therefore an extremely negative development and I want to emphasize that our biggest problem with Turkey is not so much the maritime zones or the subsea area, such as the continental shelf, but the first and foremost is that Turkey is now clearly claiming Greek territory.

— Yiannis ValinakisProfessor Yiannis Valinakis expressed deep concern over Turkey's potential claims to Greek islands under the 'Blue Homeland' doctrine.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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