UPDATE - Greece's expansionist, aggressive policies fueling instability, says Türkiye

UPDATES WITH MORE QUOTES BY TURKISH NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER AKAR; REVISES DECK

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to “peace and stability in the Aegean,” while decrying Greece’s “expansionist and aggressive policies.”

“Unfortunately, our neighbor Greece continues its expansionist and aggressive policies with its provocative actions and rhetoric that fuels instability,” Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told a press conference after meeting with his counterparts from Georgia and Azerbaijan.

He said Türkiye remains open to dialogue, but will not allow any fait accompli on issues related to Cyprus or the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas.

He also denounced Greek warplanes’ recent attempt to interfere in a NATO training mission over the Aegean, saying such hostile steps are evidence of Athens’ arrogance and ignorance of NATO’s basic principles.

“We expect an impartial, objective, reasonable, and logical approach from our other NATO allies, especially the US, on this matter,” he added.

Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months, including arming islands near Turkish shores that are demilitarized under treaty obligations. It says that such moves frustrate its good faith efforts for peace.

On the prospective sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye, Akar said Türkiye expects “positive and concrete steps” from the US.

Ankara requested F-16s and modernization kits in October 2021. The $6 billion deal would include the sale of 40 jets, as well as modernization kits for 79 warplanes that the Turkish Air Force already has in its inventory.

-Commitment to peace, to defeat terrorism

Noting that Türkiye has always favored global and regional peace, tranquility and stability, Akar said it is devoting "great efforts to peace and stability in the Black Sea as well as in the Caucasus, and for an effective, balanced and constructive policy, including the implementation of Montreux,” referring to the 1936 Montreux Convention for the Turkish Straits.

"We continue our efforts to achieve a cease-fire and diplomatic solution in the region," he said on the 10-month-old Ukraine war, calling this summer’s landmark initiative unblocking grain exports "one of (Türkiye’s) greatest contributions" in this regard.

On Türkiye's domestic and cross-border counter-terror operations, Akar said they continue efforts against terrorism with determination and success.

"No one, especially the countries destabilizing the region, should expect us to tolerate terrorists nesting right next to our border," he said, stressing that the Turkish Armed Forces will continue to take the necessary steps for national security, referring to operations across the southern border into terrorist dens in Syria and Iraq.

On his trilateral meeting with the Azerbaijani and Georgian foreign ministers, Akar hailed the deeply rooted relations with both countries and noted Georgia's role in the stability of the Caucasus region.

Saying that the three officials exchanged views on regional and global developments, Akar added: "Based on aims to establish a peaceful future, cooperation between the three countries continues to rise, including issues related to defense and security."

He stressed that the cooperation between Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Georgia is exemplary for all amid growing risks, threats and dangers across the region and world.

The last such trilateral meeting was held in 2021 in Georgia.