NATO: Turkey and Greece cancel military exercises in Eastern Mediterranean
A Turkish ship deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, at the center of tensions between Turkey and Greece who are fighting over this area potentially rich in natural gas.
(Illustrative image) REUTERS / Murad Sezer
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Greece and Turkey have canceled military exercises planned in the Mediterranean next week at the request of NATO to ease tensions between the two countries, the Alliance's secretary general announced on Friday (October 23).
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Ankara has agreed, along with Athens, to cancel military exercises planned in the Mediterranean next week.
A small step for NATO in the thorny issue
of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean
.
“
I welcome this decision.
It is a step in the right direction.
It will help reduce the risk of accidents and can serve as a basis for Germany's efforts to resolve (territorial) disputes between the two countries,
”said Jens Stoltenberg after a meeting of ministers. Defense of the Alliance.
The day before NATO had condemned the escalation of tensions between Turkey and Greece in the eastern Mediterranean and asked the two member countries of the Alliance to respect international law to resolve their differences.
Greece accuses Turkey of violating international maritime law by carrying out gas exploration in an area disputed by the two countries.
Jens Stoltenberg on Friday renewed his call on the leaders of the two countries to "
avoid words and actions likely to aggravate tensions
".
The Secretary General is personally involved in calming the game between Ankara and Athens.
He proposed Thursday a moratorium on the military exercises planned by the two countries on the occasion of their national holidays and obtained their agreement on Friday, a diplomatic source explained.
At the end of August the tensions between Greece and Turkey were so strong that the German Minister of Foreign Affairs had estimated that "
the slightest spark can now lead to war
".
It is therefore a step forward in relations between Turkey and NATO.
However, a new source of tension has emerged between Ankara and the Western countries.
Russian S-400 missile test
The US Department of Defense condemned "
in the strongest terms
" Turkey's October 16 test of the S-400 air defense system, a Pentagon spokesman said.
"
An operational S-400 system is not compatible with the commitments made by Turkey as an ally of the United States and NATO
", he added.
"
We are opposed to Turkey testing this system, it may have serious consequences for our defense relations
," warned Jonathan Hoffman.
According to Turkish media, Ankara carried out the first test of the S-400 on October 16.
This test was officially confirmed for the first time on Friday by Turkish President Erdogan.
"
These tests, it is true, have been carried out and will continue,
" the Turkish head of state told journalists in Istanbul.
"
We are not going to ask the opinion of the United States for that
".
Despite the sign of Ankara opening up with the cancellation of military exercises in the Mediterranean, the Russian missile test is a source of tension in a sensitive issue and gives the impression that Turkey is blowing hot and cold at the same time. cold.
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