Turkey has reportedly sent letters to NATO, the United States and the European Union complaining about Greece’s decision to install a battery of air defense Patriot missiles on the southeastern Aegean island of Karpathos in response to ongoing regional tensions stemming from the US-Israel attack on Iran.
According to Turkey’s Milliyet newspaper, the government in Ankara is seeking to draw attention to what it claims is an attempt by Athens to take advantage of the war to violate the demilitarized status of the Aegean islands.
“Diplomatic sources stated that Turkiye has brought Greece’s arming of the islands to international attention. The sources added that the situation was communicated to NATO, the EU troika and the US in a letter last week,” Milliyet reported.
Athens has dismissed Turkey’s claims as “unfounded.”
Greece has taken steps to bolster defenses at its borders over concerns of a possible Iranian strike against US bases and facilities located in the country, following an attack on a British air base in Cyprus earlier this month. [ekathimerini.gr]
