Turkey's ruling AKP party spokesman Ömer Çelik issued a direct warning to Greece on Wednesday, telling Athens that Ankar...

Turkey's ruling AKP party spokesman Ömer Çelik issued a direct warning to Greece on Wednesday, telling Athens that Ankara's preference for diplomacy should not be read as an inability to act. "The last thing we want in such instability is provocative actions in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean," Çelik said, while stressing that Turkey is fully aware of the capabilities it holds both at the negotiating table and on the ground. Çelik also took aim at Greek domestic politics, arguing that Athens has been using Aegean disputes for internal political gain, which he called a "toxic vicious cycle." He rejected the idea of third-party mediation, saying Turkey would not recognize or accept messages conveyed through outside parties. On Cyprus, Çelik attacked Washington's decision to extend the lifting of US defense trade restrictions on the Republic of Cyprus, calling it "wrong" and saying it damages trust. The Biden-era policy shift, which opened the door to direct US arms cooperation with Nicosia, has been a persistent thorn for Ankara. Çelik repeated Turkey's claim to be a "guarantor power" on the island and reaffirmed Ankara's support for the Turkish Cypriot administration in the north, which controls territory seized by Turkish military force in 1974, 52 years ago. He said Turkey's position on Cyprus would only grow firmer over time. Greece and Cyprus have both rejected Turkish claims over the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. Athens maintains that its actions are fully within international law, while Nicosia has consistently pushed back against Ankara's assertion of any legitimate role in governing Cyprus's defense arrangements. #Greece #Cyprus #Turkey