VIVA – The Turkish Minister of Defense, Hulusi Akar and the Head of General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Yasar Guler on Saturday, 12 September 2020 specifically visited the headquarters of the Amphibious Forces or Underwater Attack Command (SAT) on the Aegean Island, the border between Turkey and Greece.
The arrival of Hulusi Akar to the training ground for the elite Turkish troop unit, SAT, was in order to provide motivation and ensure that the elite troops known as the ‘Hero of Kardak’ were ready to face various threats from their enemies.
In front of the SAT troops, Akar explained, the situation in the eastern Mediterranean is currently very uncertain. This was even more so when Turkey’s military movements in the eastern Mediterranean were interrupted by their neighboring country, Greece, which was supported by France.
“There are people trying to guide us beyond their limits and heights. We cannot accept them,” said Hulusi Akar, alluding to Greece and France who have recently denied their presence in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. VIVA Military from Anadolu Agency, Sunday, September 13, 2020.
Hulusi Akar’s visit was a strong signal for European Union (EU) countries, particularly Greece and France. The arrival of the top Turkish military leader has signaled that Turkey is preparing to make a firm calculation on Greece and France if it still insists on obstructing oil and gas drilling activities and blocking its military activities in the East Mediterranean Sea.
It is to be noted that the dispute between Turkey and Greece over the uninhabited small island, Kardak has brought the two countries to the brink of armed conflict in 1996.
Tensions between the two neighboring countries have come to a head lately after Turkey decided to sail the Oruc Reis, supported by a number of Turkish warships, to carry out oil and gas exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Greece claims that the eastern Mediterranean is their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) area. Thus, they considered that Turkey’s military activities and natural resource exploration activities had violated international agreements.
As reported VIVA Military previously, Greece was not alone in the face of Turkish military might. He was supported by the French. France is even reported to have deployed an aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle and a number of other warships to confront the Turkish Navy around the East Mediterranean Sea.
The French military presence was strongly opposed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On various occasions Erdogan has emphasized that his side will not take a step back from the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Turkey insists it is ready to face Greek military forces backed by France for the purpose of their exploration of oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean.
Also read: Conflict of the Mediterranean Sea, Erdogan Threatens the President of France
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