Turkey Threatens To Invade Greece

[goldenequity]

This is a thread not because I give the latest bluster any credence...
but
cuz of the short, concise, historical tour of Erdo's Neo-Ottoman fantasies.



Turkey Threatens To Invade Greece
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...-invade-greece



In an incident that took place less than two weeks after the Greek Defense Ministry announced that Turkey had violated Greek airspace 138 times in a single day, a Turkish coast guard patrol boat on February 13 rammed a Greek coast guard vessel off the shore of Imia, one of many Greek islands over which Turkey claims sovereignty.

Most of the areas within modern Greece's current borders were under the occupation of the Ottoman Empire from the mid-15th century until the Greek War of Independence in 1821 and the establishment of the modern Greek state in 1832. The islands, however, like the rest of Greece, are legally and historically Greek, as their names indicate.

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), however, and even much of the opposition seem intent on, if not obsessed with, invading and conquering these Greek islands, on the grounds that they are actually Turkish territory.

In December, for instance, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of the main Turkish opposition CHP party, stated that when he wins the election in 2019, he will "invade and take over 18 Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, just as former Turkish PM Bulent Ecevit invaded Cyprus in 1974." He said that there is "no document" proving that those islands belong to Greece.

Meral Akşener, the head of the newly established opposition "Good Party," has also called for an invasion and conquest of the islands. "What is required must be done," she tweeted on January 13.

The most garish muscle-flexing has come from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, of course, who seems emboldened by his military invasion of the Afrin region in northern Syria having gone virtually unchallenged.

"We warn those who have crossed the line in the Aegean and Cyprus," Erdoğan declared, continuing:

"Their courage persists only until they see our army, our ships and our planes... Whatever Afrin is to us, our rights in the Aegean and Cyprus are the same. Do not ever think that the natural gas exploration in the waters of Cyprus and the opportunistic attempts in the Aegean Sea drop off our radar.

"Just as we disrupt the plots [in the region] through Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch [on Syria], and soon in Manbij and other regions, we can and we will disrupt the plots of those who engage in miscalculations on our southern border...

Our warships and air forces are keeping an eye on the area closely to intervene in every way when required."

Referring to the days of the Ottoman Empire, Erdoğan went on:

"Those who think that we have erased from our hearts the lands from which we withdrew in tears a hundred years ago are wrong.

"We say at every opportunity we have that Syria, Iraq and other places in the geography [map] in our hearts are no different from our own homeland. We are struggling so that a foreign flag will not be waved anywhere where adhan [Islamic call to prayer in mosques] is recited.

"The things we have done so far [pale in comparison to the] even greater attempts and attacks [we are planning for] the coming days, inshallah [Allah willing]."



Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently said: "We warn those who have crossed the line in the Aegean and Cyprus... Their courage persists only until they see our army, our ships and our planes."


The Ottoman dynasty and empire was established by a nomadic Turkmen chief sometime around the year 1300. During the more than 600 years of the Ottoman period, the Ottoman Turks, who also represented the Islamic Caliphate, regularly launched wars of jihad, invading and occupying lands across five continents.

Neo-Ottomanists in Turkey still proudly embrace the concept of jihad (Islamic holy war) against the kafirs (infidels).

The head of the state-funded Directorate of Religious Affairs, the Diyanet, has openly described Turkey's recent military invasion of Afrin as "jihad."

This designation makes sense when one considers that Muslim Turks owe their demographic majority in Asia Minor to centuries of Turkish Muslim persecution and discrimination against the Christian, Yazidi and Jewish inhabitants of the area. In the 11th century, Turkic jihadists from Central Asia invaded and conquered the Greek-speaking, Christian Byzantine Empire, paving the way for the gradual Turkification and Islamization of the region through methods such as murder, kidnapping, rape and forced conversions.

The greatest 20th century Turkish assault against Christians took place in the 1914-1923 genocide of Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians (Syriacs/Chaldeans) in Ottoman Turkey. This did not prevent Turkey, which continues to deny the genocide, from becoming a member of NATO in 1952. The assault also did not stop Turkey, three years after joining NATO, from committing a savage anti-Greek pogrom in Istanbul or from forcibly expelling the remaining Greeks from Turkey in 1964.

It is precisely because the Turks have never been held accountable for their criminal actions and aggression that they continue to threaten the security and sovereignty of their neighbors. It is high time for the West wake up and take Ankara to task.


Authored by Uzay Bulut via The Gatestone Institute,



Just a footnote: Israel STILL refuses to recognize the (above) Armenian 'Holocaust'. (ironic and hypocritical to say the least.)

[Influenza]

erdogan sure likes to bark a lot, but I can't imagine he would want to isolate himself from his western allies even more.

"We say at every opportunity we have that Syria, Iraq and other places in the geography [map] in our hearts are no different from our own homeland. We are struggling so that a foreign flag will not be waved anywhere where adhan [Islamic call to prayer in mosques] is recited.

What is he really saying here? By foreign does he mean not native to the middle east, or is he really calling for a return of the ottoman empire? Or some other unified government across muslim majority regions? He might just be trying to appeal to the hardline ultra-religious ultra-nationalist people that represent a huge population of Turkey.

The Ottoman dynasty and empire was established by a nomadic Turkmen chief sometime around the year 1300. During the more than 600 years of the Ottoman period, the Ottoman Turks, who also represented the Islamic Caliphate, regularly launched wars of jihad, invading and occupying lands across five continents.

Was it really 5 continents? Africa, Asia, and Europe... but what other two? I tried to look for some info but couldn't find anything

[CaptUSA]

Careful there. Deep-fried turkey can create a big greece fire if you're not careful.

[Swordsmyth]

Turkish Navy vessels threatened on Friday to sink a drilling ship that oil major Eni has hired to explore for oil and gas offshore Cyprus—a divided island whose northern part is run by Turkish Cypriots and is recognized only by Turkey.
According to local media reports, four or five ships of the Turkish Navy tried to prevent Saipem’s 12000 drilling vessel from performing exploration in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cyprus.
Turkey, which recognizes the northern Turkish Cypriot government and doesn’t have diplomatic relations with the internationally recognized government of Cyprus, claims that part of the Cyprus offshore area is under the jurisdiction of Turkish Cypriots or Turkey.
After the Turkish Navy threatened to sink the drilling ship, the Saipem vessel maneuvered out of the area and set sail for Morocco, Greek newspaper Ekathimerini reports.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-N...re-Cyprus.html

[r3volution 3.0]

Most likely, nothing happens, but I wouldn't be totally surprised if something did, despite both being NATO members.

Turks and Greeks really hate each other.

[goldenequity]

Buffoon is prying open pandora's box.

Erdogan calls all the reservists. He said that there will be a hot summer (reference to Syria)
Erdogan sends stern warning to US over their role in Syria
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article...us-role-syria/

What a sick $#@!.

[Swordsmyth]

The U.S. Navy has increased its Mediterranean fleet, just a couple of weeks before Exxon is due to send two surveying vessels to explore offshore Cyprus near the area where Turkey blocked an Eni drilling ship from prospecting in February, Turkish news outlet Ahval reports.
Last year, ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum signed an exploration and production (E&P) sharing contract with the Cyprus government, under which the companies will start drilling in a block offshore Cyprus this year.
Two weeks ago, Turkish Navy vessels threatened to sink a drilling ship that oil major Eni has hired to explore for oil and gas offshore Cyprus—a divided island whose northern part is run by Turkish Cypriots and is recognized only by Turkey.
According to local media reports, four or five ships of the Turkish Navy tried to prevent Saipem’s 12000 drilling vessel from performing exploration in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cyprus.
Turkey, which recognizes the northern Turkish Cypriot government and doesn’t have diplomatic relations with the internationally recognized government of Cyprus, claims that part of the Cyprus offshore area is under the jurisdiction of Turkish Cypriots or Turkey.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-N...re-Cyprus.html

[goldenequity]

Turkish Navy vessels threatened on Friday to sink a drilling ship that oil major Eni has hired to explore for oil and gas offshore Cyprus—a divided island whose northern part is run by Turkish Cypriots and is recognized only by Turkey.
According to local media reports, four or five ships of the Turkish Navy tried to prevent Saipem’s 12000 drilling vessel from performing exploration in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cyprus.
Turkey, which recognizes the northern Turkish Cypriot government and doesn’t have diplomatic relations with the internationally recognized government of Cyprus, claims that part of the Cyprus offshore area is under the jurisdiction of Turkish Cypriots or Turkey.
After the Turkish Navy threatened to sink the drilling ship, the Saipem vessel maneuvered out of the area and set sail for Morocco, Greek newspaper Ekathimerini reports.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-N...re-Cyprus.html

US Navy Boosts Mediterranean Presence As Exxon Set To Explore Offshore Cyprus
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...ffshore-cyprus


This is meant for Erdo... also a mssg to Lebanon re: Block 9 oil.... (Israel)
Bully gonna bully.

[goldenequity]

US Navy Boosts Mediterranean Presence As Exxon Set To Explore Offshore Cyprus
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...ffshore-cyprus


This is meant for Erdo... also a mssg to Lebanon re: Block 9 oil.... (Israel)
Bully gonna bully.

Turkey Threatens Exxon Mobil & The US 6th Fleet Off Cyprus
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...h-fleet-cyprus


lol

[Swordsmyth]

Greece’s defense minister described Turkey on Wednesday as an “enemy that continues to provoke us” and said he had ordered the deployment of more military personnel to islands in the eastern Aegean Sea. Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said 7,000 service members were being moved to the islands and a border area in northeast Greece amid a spike in tension between the two NATO allies.
“If they have the guts, let them dare to challenge one inch of our territory,” Kammenos said while attending a reservist exercise on the island of Ikaria. “The Greeks, united, will crush them.”

More at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...=.ca872991ca19

[goldenequity]

Greece’s defense minister described Turkey on Wednesday as an “enemy that continues to provoke us” and said he had ordered the deployment of more military personnel to islands in the eastern Aegean Sea. Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said 7,000 service members were being moved to the islands and a border area in northeast Greece amid a spike in tension between the two NATO allies.
“If they have the guts, let them dare to challenge one inch of our territory,” Kammenos said while attending a reservist exercise on the island of Ikaria. “The Greeks, united, will crush them.”

More at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...=.ca872991ca19

Greece will send 7,000 soldiers to Turkish border amid deteriorating relations with Ankara
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article...s-with-ankara/

Greek minister says he has ordered deployment of more military personnel to islands near Turkish shore
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/eu-...ean-sea-129809

[Swordsmyth]

Greece will send 7,000 soldiers to Turkish border amid deteriorating relations with Ankara
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article...s-with-ankara/

Greek minister says he has ordered deployment of more military personnel to islands near Turkish shore
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/eu-...ean-sea-129809

Turkey’s Athens consulate comes under attack

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-athens-consulate-comes-under-attack-129811

[Swordsmyth]

The former US Ambassador to Ukraine during EuroMaidan and present chief diplomat in Greece Geoffrey Pyatt predicted that Turkey’s ties with both the US and Greece will go through what he described as “turbulence” ahead of President Erdogan’s reelection vote next year.

This ambiguous warning can be interpreted in one of two ways. The decontextualized understanding is to think that he’s hinting that President Erdogan will cynically stage various highly-publicized provocations against them in order to galvanize the electorate and appeal to nationalists, while an informed reading would be that the US plans to use Greece as a Hybrid War destabilization tool against Turkey during this sensitive time while hiding behind the “plausible deniability” of the Mainstream Media’s messaging that President Erdogan is really to blame. The second interpretation is probably the most accurate because Pyatt has proven himself to be a false flag and perception management master after his ‘success’ during EuroMaidan, so his words shouldn’t ever be taken at their face value or in ‘good faith’.

More at: https://orientalreview.org/2018/04/0...kish-tensions/

[Swordsmyth]

Stoltenberg Brushes Off Greece-Turkey Tensions: "Not An Issue For NATO"


‘Tension in Aegean should be resolved between Turkey, Greece’

Q: The tension between Turkey and Greece over the Aegean Sea continues to rise. There are reports that Greece has officially asked NATO to take a more active role in this context. What is NATO’s position on the rising tension between the two NATO allies?
Stoltenberg: Greece and Turkey are two highly valued NATO allies, they have been allies since 1952.
Both contribute to our collective defense. I expect that the differences we see on some issues are solved between Turkey and Greece in the spirit of good relations. In this context, I welcome that the PMs of both countries have recently held a phone conversation and that they have agreed to resolve these differences through dialogue.
Q: So, NATO does not foresee involvement?
Stoltenberg: No, it’s not an issue for NATO, this is something that has to be addressed between Turkey and Greece.

Commenting on a wide range of issues including the agenda of his visit, the Turkish-led Operation Olive Branch, the fight against terrorism, and Syria, Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of Turkey as a valuable strategic ally.
The interview was given ahead of Stoltenberg’s visit to Turkey on May 16th.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...not-issue-nato


If war does break out and NATO refuses to get involved will Putin join Greece against Turkey?

[Ender]

I'm not supporting Turkey or Erdoğan but the Gatestone Institute is basically a Muslim-hate site.

Most everything we read about the history of the Ottoman Empire is very imbalanced and not close to truth. At one time the Ottoman Empire was the greatest and most civilized on earth- think of America in it's prime.

The Emperor Suleyman was considered one of the greatest leaders in history; he was also extremely cultured & artistic. The Ottomans never went through the "Dark Ages". That was a European experience.

Also: jihad means a personal inner conflict to better oneself- the arabic word for war is: "al-harb". Jihad is NOT war against other religions. The Koran specifically refers to Jews and Christians as "people of the book" who should be protected and respected.

Did the Ottoman's degenerate? Of course- think of the US's path in today's world.

Sorry to get off topic- just pointing out the ignorance & hate of the original article.

[acptulsa]

US Navy Boosts Mediterranean Presence As Exxon Set To Explore Offshore Cyprus
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...ffshore-cyprus


This is meant for Erdo... also a mssg to Lebanon re: Block 9 oil.... (Israel)
Bully gonna bully.

This is corporate welfare.

Who put U.S. taxpayers on the hook for enabling ExxonMobil to survey hostile waters? What do U.S. taxpayers get out of it?

[Swordsmyth]

Turkish Fighter Jets ‘Harass Greek PM’s Helicopter’ – EU Still Helping Turkey Join Brussels Bloc

[Swordsmyth]

Greece is being “overwhelmed” by illegal migrants surging across its land border with Turkey, with a local mayor warning the situation is “on the verge of spinning out of control”.

In April alone, almost 3,000 illegal migrants penetrated Greece’s land border by crossing the Evros river in East Thrace — Turkey’s last remaining foothold on the European mainland.
This figure is equivalent to half the number of migrants who arrived in all of 2017, and Greek politicians along the frontier are warning they cannot cope with the strain.
“Our reception facilities are overwhelmed and things are on the verge of spinning out of control. Far more are coming than are actually being registered,” said Dimitris Mavrides, mayor of Orestiada, in comments to The Guardian.
“The government has just sent 120 extra police, but they are temporary and simply not enough.”
Mavrides believes people-smugglers and their customers have realised that the land border is a comparatively soft target, as it is not covered by the deal to cut Aegean crossings.
“In a boat it can take as little as three minutes to cross [the Evros] and is far cheaper [than the Aegean route],” he explained.
“They are coming precisely because it is not part of the deal and because word has got out… If they get here and are processed, they are free to go anywhere on the mainland.
“We have four buses a day to Athens and Thessaloniki and they are full.”

“Greece recorded 1,671 violations of its airspace by Turkish jets in 2016. To put that in perspective, NATO jets scrambled 780 times to intercept Russian aircraft, the highest level since the Cold War.
“A year later, the number of Turkish violations increased to 3,317.” https://t.co/gVFwZazxfz
— Jack Montgomery ن (@JackBMontgomery) April 15, 2018

The surge is thought to have been driven in large part by a Turkish military offensive in Afrin, northern Syria, with locals fleeing the NATO member’s oncoming forces.
This behaviour stands in stark contrast to the aftermath of successful offensives by the Russian-backed Syrian government, which tend to be followed by displaced locals returning to the recaptured territory in large numbers.
The Greeks believe that the sudden influx is no accident, and that the Turkish government — which has repeatedly threatened to allow millions of migrants to flood Europe if demands on money, visa-free travel, and progress on its EU membership application are not met — is deliberately loosening its borders in order to put pressure on European governments.

More at: http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018...urkish-border/

[Swordsmyth]

In the last three months, tensions between two NATO member states have escalated dramatically - Turkey has threatened to invade Greek islands, Greece has responded, and Greeks now see Turkey as the greatest threat to their existence., but today it appears the situation may have escalated dramatically as Turkish cargo ship KARMATE has collided with the Greek warship 'Armatolos' despite warnings that it was on collision course.

KeepTalkingGreece reports that the incident took place at 4 o’ clock Friday morning, South-East off Lesvos within Greek territorial waters. The Turkish-flagged ship had deviated form its original course and fled into Turkish territorial waters. The gunboat was on NATO mission “Aegean Activity” patrolling for migrants and refugees illegally entering Greece from Turkey.
According to a statement issued by the Greek Navy, the Turkish cargo came towards the gunboat, “approached and touched” ARMATOLOS on the left side. KARMATE increased speed and made it towards the Turkish coast. It did not respond to continuous radio calls from ARMATOLOS to stop.
The Turkish cargo violated the International Law of the Sea, breaching safety rules and avoid collision, the statement said.
The Turkish cargo had also ignored visual signals and warning calls from the gunboat while it was on collision course.

The cargo continued its route and entered Turkish territorial waters. Within 1.5 nautical mile, it was stopped by a Turkish Coast Guard vessel that had heard of the whole incident through the radio.
Gunboat Armatolos suffered no serious material damage in the middle, no crew member was injured.
A Greek Coast Guard boat approached the gunboat that continued its course.
The gunboat immediately informed the Greek Navy and the NATO.
The Navy is going to seek compensation from the KARMATE Shipping company, Greek media reported.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...hip-aegean-sea

[Swordsmyth]

In the last three months, tensions between two NATO member states have escalated dramatically - Turkey has threatened to invade Greek islands, Greece has responded, and Greeks now see Turkey as the greatest threat to their existence.


And while Turkish President Erdogan was busy talking up his currency and begging his people not to sell Lira for dollars, his air force was once again running interference with Greece.

As GreekReporter.com reports,Turkish fighter jets violated Greek airspace over the Aegean 56 times, making such incidents an almost daily phenomenon.


According to the Greek Ministry of National Defense, the air force recorded 56 violations of national airspace in the Northeast, Central and Southeastern Aegean.
Eleven Turkish aircraft - two F-16s that were flying in formation, two CN-235s and seven helicopters - also committed 14 air-traffic law violations in the Athens Flight Information Region.
According to the General Staff, in all cases, the Turkish aircraft were identified and intercepted by Greek fighter planes in line with international rules of engagement.
Two Turkish aircraft were armed.


However, despite all this provocation, the rapidly souring tensions between Greece and Turkey are “not an issue for NATO,” the General Secretary of the North Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg in an interview with Turkish news agency Anadolu.


https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...mes-single-day

[Swordsmyth]

Coincidence?

In the last few months, tensions between two NATO member states have escalated dramatically - Turkey has threatened to invade Greek islands, Greece has responded, Turkey has violated Greek airspace 100s of times, and Greeks now see Turkey as the greatest threat to their existence.

And now, in the first five months of 2018, KeepTalkingGreece.com reports that Greece has been Europe’s top entry point for refugees and migrants. According to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontext, over 19,800 people entered Greece during January – May 2018. At the same time, the land border crossing from Turkey to Greece increased by 90 percent. The majority of these people were Syrians and Iraqis.

In May, 12 100 irregular border crossings were detected on the main migratory routes into the EU, less than half the total from a year ago https://t.co/Q4Fk5lLNe5 pic.twitter.com/JarhIwSbKT
— Frontex (@Frontex) June 18, 2018

In a press release published on Monday, the Frontext presented the May data that refer to the number of detections of irregular border-crossing at the external borders of the European Union. The same person may attempt to cross the border several times in different locations at the external border.

Migratory flows in May: Decreasing trend, but pressure remains
In May, some 12 100 irregular border crossings were detected on the main migratory routes into the EU, 56% fewer than in the same month of last year.
In the first five months of 2018, the total number of irregular border crossings fell 46% compared to a year ago to about 43 200, mainly because of lower migratory pressure on the Central Mediterranean route.
Central Mediterranean
The number of migrants arriving in Italy via the Central Mediterranean route in May fell to about 4 100, down 82% from May 2017. The total number of migrants detected on this route in the first five months of 2018 fell to roughly 13 450, down 77% from a year ago. So far this year, Tunisians and Eritreans were the two most represented nationalities on this route, together accounting for more than 37% of all the detected migrants.
Eastern Mediterranean
In May, the number of irregular migrants taking the Eastern Mediterranean route stood at some 4 400, 40% fewer than in the previous month. But because of a rise of irregular crossings in March and April on the land borders with Turkey, the total number of migrants detected on the Eastern Mediterranean route until the end of May rose by 90% to more than 19 800.
The largest number of migrants on this route in the first five months of the year were nationals of Syria and Iraq.
Western Mediterranean
Last month, the number of irregular migrants reaching Spain stood at around 3 400, more about thrice the figure from last month, as well as May 2017. In the first five months of 2018, there were some 8 200 irregular border crossings on the Western Mediterranean route, 59% more than a year ago.
Nationals of Guinea accounted for the highest number of arrivals in Spain this year, followed by those from Morocco, Mali and Ivory Coast.
Western Balkans
Despite the low number of detections at the external borders, Frontex has observed an emergence of new sub-routes via Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia Herzegovina, as well as from Serbia to Bosnia Herzegovina. This has been linked with increased migratory pressure in these countries in recent months and at the border between Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia.

* * *

So to sum up - EU in general saw a 46% drop in migrant inflows in the first five months of 2018... but Greece saw a 90% increase in migrant inflows across the land border with the nation that has threatened to invade it...?

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...-border-turkey