Concerns about Erdogan’s next step – Athens’ moves

By Penelope Galliou

The unprecedented and out-of-bounds provocation of Turkey, which, escalating its threatening rhetoric for months, in recent days seems to be peaking its propaganda but with an unknown goal and outcome.

The concern lies in the fact that the Turkish president seems to have ended the propaganda and nationalist delusion against Greece aimed at its domestic audience and the next stage of anti-Greek rhetoric is being sought. Will he choose to go to the field at a later stage? And in what way? Will it attempt to de-escalate slowly and “long-winded”? in what way too?

As commented by sources who study Turkish tactics, the Turkish audience has been “infused” with hatred against Greece for a long time and they wonder how easy it is to reverse this and on what grounds. The concern therefore also lies in the extent to which this extreme rhetoric of escalation against Greece has been reversed.

Turkish challenges in recent years have taken various forms:

• Hybrid war in Evros with “weapon” waves of immigrants in Evros
• Challenges in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean with research vessels (such as Orouts Reis entering and exiting the Greek continental shelf)
• Provocations and harassment in the Aegean and “supporting” smugglers
• Non-existent lies and complaints about the militarization of Greek islands
• Violation and distortion of international treaties
• Ignoring International Law and the Law of the Sea
• Violations of national airspace
• Extreme hate speech against Greece and its history
• Perpetual casus belli threat
• Direct threats of invasion

The question that automatically arises is “so what?”

Whatever the answer or plans of Tayyip Erdogan, Greece is ready, determined and cool to face any eventuality and defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights in any case. “We have to have our reflexes activated to the maximum extent with composure, with sobriety, but always alert, watching what is happening on the other side. We have done this all the time before, we will continue from now on with confidence and with confidence in the possibilities us” said the government representative and added:

“Self-confidence and trust that also derives from the fact that we have taken care with a conscious governmental choice in recent years to strengthen our deterrent capacity. In this direction we will continue with the stability, prudence and possibilities created by our economic policy. We are not going to deviate from that. All government priorities are running in terms of strengthening the Armed Forces. At the right time and in the right way, equipping and renewing, strengthening the Armed Forces where necessary and with the priority that the Armed Forces place on the political leadership, it is still moving forward. The defense of the country is an end in itself for us, that is clear,” he said.

At the same time, Athens continues uninterruptedly the diplomatic marathon of internationalization, with its results being established and expressed in the direct condemnation of the Turkish escalation by allies and partners who rush to stand by Greece, calling on our eastern neighbor to return to its path logic and to give up challenges. While at the same time as the official declarations of support, a parallel behind-the-scenes “struggle” by allied countries is “running” to “sense” Ankara.

In Athens, however, they are once again standing by the clear and strict invocation by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, during the joint press conference with her Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias, of Article 2 of the Greek-French defense agreement, which concerns defense assistance to in the event of an incident with Turkey.

Article which provides that: “The Parties shall provide each other with assistance and assistance, by all appropriate means at their disposal and if necessary by the use of armed force, if they jointly determine that an armed attack is taking place against territory of either, in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations”.

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