File photo. [Intime News]
The Greek government is interpreting a recent intervention by Turkey’s Defense Ministry as part of a broader escalation in Ankara’s challenges to Greek positions in the Aegean, following objections to Greece’s Special Spatial Planning Framework for Renewable Energy Sources.
Within 12 days, from the time of the announcement of the Special Spatial Planning Framework for Tourism through Thursday, Turkey raised a series of objections touching on issues it has gradually introduced into Greek-Turkish relations over time. Greek officials view Ankara’s latest response to the renewable energy framework as a return to questioning Greek sovereignty.
The reaction unfolded in two stages. A statement from Turkey’s Foreign Ministry was followed a day later by an announcement from Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense, which reiterated the “gray zones” theory.
Greek officials said the dual intervention was not accidental. Particular attention was drawn to language in the Defense Ministry statement indicating Turkey’s determination “to protect its rights, interests and concerns in the Aegean Sea within the framework of international law.” According to a diplomatic source, the fact that the statement came from the defense ministry, rather than solely from diplomatic channels, did not go unnoticed in Athens.
