Eastern Mediterranean

Under no circumstances will our country’s stance be determined by the actions of Turkey, nor will Greece allow itself to be exploited by Erdogan’s games.

Turkey knows that Greece and the West constitute a stable front in confronting the game of revisionism, with composure and without high-pitched rhetoric.

PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ trip to Washington triggered hostile outbursts against him from Ankara, which is attempting to exploit current challenges to its benefit.

Erdogan has not moved an inch in pursuing a wide array of claims and challenges to Greek sovereignty, and the PM must make tough calls on what more Athens may legitimately negotiate, without compromising sovereignty and national interests.

It is imperative to make it perfectly clear that under no circumstances will Greece enter into a discussion of Ankara’s neo-Ottoman, revisionist demands.

The State Department wanted to allay concerns and maintained that the US wants to actively support regional efforts to bolster cooperation and stability.

Erdogan has often demonstrated that the only way he knows to address domestic problems is through aggressiveness in the Eastern Mediterranean and elsewhere.

'We also firmly believe in respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law of the sea.'

The two leaders presented the agreements as a substantial step toward the much touted EU defence autonomy and ended a joint press conference at Elysee Palace with beaming smiles and raised clasped hands.

Regarding Greek-Turkish differences and the Cyprus problem, Russia is near to the position that these should be resolved through the implementation of international law.

While the meeting with Cavusoglu had been scheduled earlier, Erdogan’s surprise move to meet Dendias comes straight on the heels of his snub of European Commission President Ursula van Der Leyen.

Five dozen rounds of talks in nearly 20 years proved fruitless as Athens steadfastly rejected all of Ankara's demands that are outside the parameters of international law.

The exceptionally good personal relationship between Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, gave Ankara great leeway in charting its geopolitical moves and to harrass other NATO member-states and to ignore good neighbourly relations.

The undeclared war with Turkey cost Greece dearly. During the 100 day crisis involving Ankara's oil and gas research vessel "Oruc Reis" the Greek Navy was deployed to constantly monitor the Aegean.

The best answer to Turkish provocations is always diplomacy. That way Athens demonstrates that it is by being the trustworthy regional interlocutor and that in contrast with Turkey it can be a basic pillar of stability.

'The Germans have done a good job trying to diplomatically get them to begin their conversations about how to proceed. We hope they’ll be real conversations and we hope the military assets that are there will be withdrawn so these conversations can take place,; Pompeo said.

Ankara is challenging Greee’s sovereign rights in the continental shelf and EEZ of the Greeek island of Kastelorizo

'Adopting tactics of escalation that lead to an impasse and are fruitless is of no use. It is not a sign of strength. It is a sign of weakness,' the PM said in response to remarks by Tayyip Erdogan.

'We are attempting to de-escalate tensions in the Aegean - which entail dangers of an accident – with continuing discussions on implementation of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) agreed to over the last decades.'

At a moment that Turkey is courting Tehran, what role will Ankara play in the strife between the US and Iran? What quid pro quo will it seek if Washington requests its assistance?

On 10 June, the Cypriot daily Phileleftheros reported that Nicosia has issued international arrest warrants for 25 individuals linked to Turkish Petroleum’s illegal offshore drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ.

Turkey’s intentions must be viewed from the vantage point of both its expansionist agenda and the desperation emanating from the state of the Turkish economy.

'Turkey may quite possibly send a ship to a portion of the continental shelf which Greece considers Greek and Turkey considers Turkish,' the former PM Simitis stated.

The Turkish defence minister said that Ankara seeks a dialogue at every level and conducts talks and contacts with its neighbours, but will give the necessary response if provoked.

'Unfortunately, day by day it becomes ever clearer that the greatest threat to the national independence , the territorial integrity, and the national interests of Greece is its very government.'

Aside from energy security, enhanced energy and military cooperation between the three countries and the broader geostrategic setting were high on the agenda.

Tsipras also accused New Democracy of tolerating the attacks and death threats issued by ND cadres and sent to MPs who plan to support the government.

Energy is the critical factor in US plans to detach the Balkan countries from the Russian energy vice