Row over militarization of Greek islands peaks with Turkish warning

Andrew Wilks

Dec 6, 2022

The Hellenic Navy Roussen or Super Vita class Fast Missile Patrol Boat P 71 HS Ritsos patrols off the tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo (Megisti), in the Dodecanese, the furthest south eastern Greek Island, two kilometers from the Turkish mainland on Aug. 28, 2020. — A Hellenic Navy ship patrols off the tiny Greek island of Kastellorizo (Megisti), in the Dodecanese, the furthest southeastern Greek Island, two kilometers (little more than a mile) from the Turkish mainland on Aug. 28, 2020. — LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images

ISTANBUL — Turkey’s feud with neighbor and fellow NATO member Greece resurfaced Tuesday as Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu threatened to “do whatever is necessary” unless Athens reverses the militarization of its islands off the Turkish coastline.

“Greece needs to give up on this,” Cavusoglu told a joint news conference in Ankara with his Romanian counterpart. “Either they take a step back and abide by the agreements or we do whatever is necessary."