Erdogan accuses Greece of 'occupying' demilitarized islands

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdan accused Greece of occupying Aegean Islands that are in a demilitarized status. He said Turkey was ready to do "whatever is necessary" when it comes.

While they are both NATO members, Turkey and Greece were once historical rivals. However, their differences have extended to issues such as overflights, the status of Aegean Islands, maritime borders, and hydrocarbon resources in Mediterranean.

Ankara recently accused Athens demilitarizing the Aegean islands of being armied - something Athens rejected, but Erdogan has never accused Greece of occupying them.

"Your occupation of the islands does no binding us. Erdogan spoke in northern Samsun, stating that "when the time comes, the hour is here, we will do whatever it takes."

Greece responded by saying that it would not be following Turkey's "outrageous daily slip" of threats and statements.

The foreign ministry stated that they would inform their allies and partners about the contents of provocative statements, "to make it clear who is setting dynamite for the cohesion our alliance during a danger period."

Turkey was recently upset by the harassment of its planes by Greek forces. Ankara claimed that S-300 air defense systems used by Greece were locked on to Turkish planes during routine flights.

Turkey celebrated Victory Day, an annual holiday that commemorates the 1922 victory of Turkish forces over Greek forces. Erdogan called on Greece Saturday to "not forget Izmir", in reference to the Turkish victory.

Erdogan is preparing for the most difficult electoral challenge in his nearly 20-year tenure in 2023. The president has highlighted his achievements on the international stage. Erdogan has also increased his foreign policy rhetoric.

Ankara claims that the Aegean islands were granted to Greece under the 1923 & 1947 treaties, provided it doesn't arm them. Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu repeatedly stated that Turkey would question the sovereignty of the islands if Athens continued to arm them.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek Prime Minister, has stated that Turkey's questioning of Greece's sovereignty over islands is "absurd".