“The Cold War in the Aegean threatens to turn into a hot episode,” Gerd Heller said in an analysis on the RND network.
“Conflict over the Aegean islands: Erdogan threatens Europe with the next war». This is the title of a comment by the Greek-born editor-in-chief of the newspaper Münchner Mercury of Munich, George Anastasiadis on the new threats of Turkey against Greece for sovereign rights in the islands of the eastern Aegean.
Among other things, he remarks: “THE Erdogan, which is under pressure due to the severe economic crisis but also the upcoming presidential elections, can do everything to divert attention from political problems at home – even a war against Greece, a NATO ally. Already every day Turkish fighter jets enter Greek airspace. It is therefore positive that Chancellor Olaf Solz is now listening to Athens’ concerns on the spot. When it comes to Turkey, Athens and Berlin are on the same side. This is because an integral part of Turkey’s threats is that it will open the gates for migrants (…) Anyone who has visited the big cities, Athens and Thessaloniki, can see how much they suffer from the large number of migrants trapped in the country. Erdogan does not even need to drop bombs to further damage neighboring country: Threats of war are enough to expel tourists, on whose money the country is heavily dependent after the economic crisis. And this is a form of war that requires a clear European response».
Are Turkish threats of war valid?
«Turkish President Erdogan openly threatens Greece with war over the Aegean islands. What is happening, what does Erdogan want and how big is the risk of a military conflict?». These are the questions he raises in his analysis on the RND network o Gerd Heller. The German correspondent in Athens presents Tayyip Erdogan’s recent statements on sovereignty over the Eastern Aegean islands and Turkish exercises in the region, looking back at the history of Turkish claims. “The conflict has been burning in the area for many years. But now, for the first time, Turkey is openly questioning Greek sovereignty over the islands – and ostentatiously launching military landing exercises. “The Cold War in the Aegean threatens to turn into a hot episode.”
Like Merkur, RND analysis, sees behind Erdogan’s threats internal political reasons and the upcoming presidential election. «The head of the Turkish state will do everything in his power to win the upcoming elections. It may even risk a war with neighboring Greece. “. Elsewhere he tries to decipher Erdogan’s aspirations: “It is not ruled out that Erdogan will launch amphibious ships and try to conquer one or more Greek islands, but it is not very likely. It is more likely that Turkey will try to underline its sovereign claims in the airspace over the Aegean. After all, it has been doing so for weeks with more and more frequent overflights over the Aegean “. Closing the article, it assesses the developments in the Aegean and in the light of Moscow: “The head of the Kremlin, Putin, should watch the developments with satisfaction. “A military conflict between Greece and Turkey, that is, between NATO partners, would be in his favor now more than ever for the war in Ukraine.”.
