“Don’t try to dance with Turkey”: Erdoğan threatens Greece

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared that Ankara will no longer engage in bilateral negotiations with Athens. “We have canceled the agreement to hold a high-level Strategic Council meeting with Greece,” Erdoğan said, speaking in a threatening tone towards Greece.

“Are you not learning lessons from history? Don’t try to dance with Turkey, or you will be left halfway,” Erdoğan warned, reiterating that Turkey will not conduct bilateral negotiations with Greece.

Earlier, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu accused Greece of “violating the status of the Aegean islands,” claiming that the islands should be “demilitarized,” otherwise the issue of their ownership will be on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Greece has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the expansion of Turkey's military presence opposite Greek islands, considering it an obvious threat. Recently, Turkey has frequently violated Greek airspace and is increasing its claims over the islands, while Greece regards Turkey’s demands and justifications as unfounded from both historical and legal perspectives.