Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler says Turkey is tracking every move Greece makes that he claims violates Turkish rig...

Written on 08/22/2026
theatlaswiregreece

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler says Turkey is tracking every move Greece makes that he claims violates Turkish rights and interests. In a written parliamentary response dated August 10 and released publicly this week, Guler stated that "all activities by Greece that violate Turkey's rights and interests and contradict international law are being monitored," adding that necessary measures are being taken. The statement came after the Turkish newspaper Turkiye raised the issue in parliament, reporting that Greece is preparing to reinforce Aegean islands close to Turkey's coastline with Israeli-made air defense systems. Guler did not deny the report, but instead used it as a platform to issue a broader warning about Greek military activity in the region. Guler also specifically flagged military cooperation between Greece and Israel, saying that joint military activities between the two countries are being "closely monitored" as well. His comments came in the context of what he described as a shifting, multipolar security environment with growing regional uncertainty. The Turkish minister's remarks are the latest signal that Ankara is watching Greece's Aegean defense buildup with increasing attention. Greece has been accelerating its military modernization program across the eastern Aegean, a region Turkey has long contested under its so-called "grey zones" doctrine. #Greece #Turkey #Aegean