In a context of strong tensions between Ankara, Athens and Paris in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan qualified, this Sunday, the leaders of France and Greece as "greedy and incompetent".
On Sunday, Turkey celebrated Victory Day, a national holiday marking the rout of Greek forces by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's army in 1922, during the Turkish War of Independence.
“To our enemies, we say 'stingy!' "
A century later, Ankara and Athens, who are fighting over the sharing of the immense gas resources in the Mediterranean, are rolling the drums of war, multiplying naval maneuvers under the eyes of a preoccupied Europe. "Are the Greek people accepting what may happen to them because of their greedy and incompetent leaders?" », Launched Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a speech in Ankara. “Do the French people know the price they will have to pay because of their greedy and incompetent leaders? ", he added.
These remarks reflect the volatility of the situation in the Mediterranean, after three weeks of an escalation triggered on August 10 by the deployment of a Turkish seismic research vessel in waters claimed by Athens. "When it comes to fighting, we do not hesitate to give martyrs (...) The question is the following: are those who set up against us in the Mediterranean and (in the Middle East) ready for the same? sacrifices? ", He declared, before adding:" To our enemies, we say 'stingy!' ".
An extension of Greek territorial waters in question
Tensions between Ankara and Athens are particularly crystallized around the small Greek island of Kastellorizo, located two kilometers off the Turkish coast. Greece maintains that the right to exploit the natural resources around this island belongs to it, which Turkey refuses. The press release of images showing Greek soldiers arriving in Kastellorizo in recent days angered Ankara.
“These provocations will not serve the interests of Greece at all. If Greece continues to escalate tensions in the region, it will be the loser, ”Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement on Sunday. Ankara, which is inflexible in the face of threats of European sanctions, also announced on Saturday new military maneuvers in the north of the island of Cyprus. And Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay warned the same day against any extension of Greek territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, compared to six currently. It would be a “casus belli,” he said.
France wants a "constructive dialogue" with Turkey
In this crisis, France has shown its support for Greece by strengthening its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean. On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to re-engage in “constructive dialogue” with Turkey, but defended a “red line policy” when it comes to “sovereignty in the Mediterranean”.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly denounced the words of Emmanuel Macron on Sunday. "Those who believe they are drawing red lines will only see our determination," said his spokesperson, Hami Aksoy. "It is time for those who see themselves in a magnifying mirror to accept reality: the time when the imperialists drew the lines on the world maps are over," he added.
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