Asked about the possibility of a hot incident in the summer, the former Minister of Defense said that this scenario always exists, but he himself is more afraid of an “accident”, which will be exploited by the Turkish side.
His concern for the escalation of tension by Turkey expressed the former Minister of Defense and honorary head of GEETHA, Evangelos Apostolakisespecially after the information that Recep Tayyip Erdogan will denounce Greece at the NATO Summit for the “militarized” islands.
As he mentioned speaking to SKAI and the show “Today”, Turkey takes… air from Jens Stoltenberg. «The last event that has bothered us all and gives air to Turkey to increase the tension is the support it seems to have from NATO. The Secretary of the Alliance himself, Mr. Stoltenberg with his statements gives the opportunity to Erdogan to raise these issues. How will NATO react and how will it work, I estimate, with the calm that is imposed and with the same logic that works until today that it does not want to be involved in the bilateral issues of its members“, He stated characteristically.
In fact, Mr. Apostolakis spoke about “Oriental Bazaar” of the Turkish President and did not rule out the possibility that Turkey, in order to allow Finland and Sweden to join NATO, would “bargain” for anything related to Turkey and its allies. «Even for the accession of the two countries to NATO, I believe that it will raise issues of the Aegean and armaments.. He can ask for the F-16 to pass and win something in his claims in the Aegean “he pointed out.
Asked if he is afraid of a hot episode in the summer, replied that this scenario always exists. «I am most afraid of the accident, which will be exploited. An offensive action aimed at taking a part of the Greek territory does not have many chances“, write down.
Referring to 2020 which Turkey had launched the Oruch Reyes research in the Mediterranean and the possibility of this being repeated this year, Mr. Apostolakis noted that the Greek side did not react as it should. «I do not want to make scripts because it may be different from what will eventually emerge. Everything is possible. What’s important is that we do not find excuses that make us complacent, such as when the Oruch Reis came in and said that it does not do research because it is blocked by sounds from the surrounding ships, which does not stand. From the moment he violates sovereignty and sovereign rights, you have to stop it and it did not happen“, He stated and added that” I’m not a warlord, but the other must know how far you can go. “What is lost, you do not easily get back.”
In terms in changing attitude of the Turkish Minister of Defense, Hulusi Akarwho speaks of dialogue, the honorary head of GEETHA stressed that “a game is played that is agreed upon. “One does the good and the other the bad and they try to keep a balance so that they do not appear to be a ruthless government, which does not talk, and on the other hand they want to show a government that does not back down to defend what it claims.”.
He thinks so The US and Europe do not put much pressure on Turkey, a fact that Erdogan is taking advantage of. «With the war going on, Turkey continues to have a role to play for both the Americans and the West, and it knows that. He knows that the pressures he will receive are not great or are such that he can withstand them. Turkey is playing in and stepping into the gaps in relations and balances that currently exist in the region. He knows that he is an important partner and he takes full advantage of it“, concluded.
