It is noted that the army was put on full combat readiness because of the “Turkish provocation”. The published footage shows the maneuvers of the 50th and 31st motorized brigades “based on offensive methods”. It is indicated that the Greek army is working out the possibility of war with Turkey.
The exercises in Evros took place after Ankara announced maneuvers in the area of North-Western Cyprus on August 29. On the same day, the European Union threatened Turkey with sanctions for illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Additional measures against Ankara will be prepared by September 24, if there is no progress on the Turkish side.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on NATO countries not to interfere in events in the Eastern Mediterranean. According to the leader, Ankara will get everything that is due to it, and attempts to stop it will be wrong. Greece, in turn, said that Athens is ready to defend its sovereignty in the conflict with Ankara.
Relations between Turkey and Greece have deteriorated due to claims over the right of offshore exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean. The parties accuse each other of violating agreements and resuming drilling operations.
Contradictions over the coast in the Eastern Mediterranean arose in 1974 — when a coup occurred in Cyprus, associated with the attempt of Greece to Annex the island. Turkey sent troops to Northern Cyprus and declared A Turkish Cypriot Federal state there, later renamed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The rest of the island is now under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus. Ankara has repeatedly called for joint development of fields by Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, allowing cooperation with Moscow.