Greece Will Use Military Force Against Turkey if It Does Not Withdraw from Greek Islands

Greece's naval forces have issued an orange alert, sending a message to warships stationed near a small group of islands in the Aegean Sea and ordering them to be on standby for potential hostile actions from Turkey.

Officials from the Greek armed forces informed Voice of America that Greek military vessels have surrounded the island of Kastellorizo and several uninhabited adjacent islands to protect these areas that belong to Greece. Earlier this month, Turkey sent the "Oruc Reis" reconnaissance vessel back to this vicinity, which previously brought the two countries to the brink of war during its first deployment.

U.S. and European Union officials have since been attempting to bring both sides to the negotiating table. The Turkish reconnaissance vessel is currently only 14 kilometers away from Kastellorizo, marking a significant approach, as no Turkish ship has come this close to a Greek island before. The ship, which the Turkish side claims is conducting research activities, operates under the supervision of Turkish warships and submarines. Over 60 Greek vessels are present in the area.

Ankara insists that this area falls under its jurisdiction for conducting gas and oil resource explorations. High-ranking officials in the Greek government warn that any violation of Greece's sovereignty will elicit a response from military forces.

Disagreements between NATO allies Greece and Turkey regarding the ownership of natural resources and maritime territories have persisted for a long time. Athens is currently trying to persuade the European Union to halt arms sales to Turkey, while also demanding sanctions be imposed against Ankara, which has met opposition from Germany and several other countries.