Turkey's Message to Greece: No Retreat, Naval and Air Forces Ordered

Turkey's Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar participated in a special event at the Air Force Academy of the National Defense University for the 2022-2023 academic year. He delivered a speech and expressed dissatisfaction with Greece. Akar noted that Greece began militarizing demilitarized islands as early as 1956 (referring to the Eastern Mediterranean islands).

"Kardak from 1997 is the boundary line. Since then, there has been no retreat, either on the ground or at the negotiation table, not even by a millimeter. Everything necessary has been done and is being done for this. Our naval and air forces have been clearly instructed on this issue. It should be noted that this situation started back in 1956 from Sakız," Akar stated.

Kardak (Turkish name) or Imia (Greek name) is one of the islands in the Greek archipelago of the Aegean Sea, around which territorial disputes have caused crises between official Athens and Ankara for decades.

Sakız (Turkish name) or Chios (Greek name) is the fifth largest island of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea, separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait.

The Turkish Minister of Defense excluded any concessions on their part, asserting that there will be no retreat. "We are determined. According to the principle of Ghazi, if I die, I will become a martyr," he stated. Akar characterized the statements of many well-known Greek politicians as frequent lies, aimed solely at gaining a position in Greece's domestic political arena.