Rising tensions between Greece and Turkey fuel fears of war between two NATO alliance members

Last month came a warning that Turkish-Greek tensions threatened to disrupt the unity of NATO. Turkey accused Greece of militarizing the Aegean Islands, but Turkey’s constant threats and intimidation forced Greece to increase its defense spending. Erdogan has stated repeatedly his goal of a revived Ottoman Empire. In June, he threatened Greece and warned it “to stay away from actions that will result in regret, just as they did a century ago.” Then in August, he defined Greece has having a “vile character,” threatened war, and accused Greece of being on stolen land.

There’s a pattern to be discerned in Islamic supremacist Turkey under Erdogan, the ongoing Palestinian jihad against Israel, and the war against India in Kashmir. In each case, Islam failed to hold on to these territories, and a seething rage persists that results in all manner of aggression, while Muslims posture as the victims. Turkey should not be in NATO in the first place, and given its troublesome presence, it should long ago have been thrown out.

Rising tensions between 2 of NATO’s biggest militaries are driving fears of the first war between alliance members

by Constantine Atlamazoglou, Zee News, November 2, 2022:

Greece and Turkey are two of NATO’s oldest members, joining together in 1952, but their relationship and the tensions between them predate the alliance, and membership has done little to ease their disputes.

In recent years, ties between Athens and Ankara have deteriorated to the point that some believe a war could break out between them.

The countries occupy strategically important territory in southeastern Europe, and they field two of NATO’s biggest militaries, making the stakes of a potential clash much higher.

Due to persistent tensions with Turkey, Greece has been one of the few NATO members to maintain defense expenditures above the alliance’s 2%-of-GDP goal. Greece’s defense spending in 2022 was the highest in the alliance as a share of GDP.

Although much of Greece’s defense spending has traditionally gone to personnel costs, significant equipment purchases under its current administration, which took office in July 2019, have also made it one of the alliance’s biggest spenders on hardware. (NATO also calls for 20% of members’ defense spending to go toward equipment purchases and upgrades.)

Greece is placing a strong emphasis on its air force and naval fleet in particular.

Since 2020, it has purchased 24 French-made Rafale jets, 4.5-generation multirole fighters that are considered very capable and technologically superior to any Turkish aircraft. Athens is also upgrading 84 of its F-16s to the latest Viper configuration and has applied to join the F-35 program.

Greece plans to buy seven MH-60R anti-submarine warfare helicopters, and it has installed a version of Israel’s Iron Dome over its eastern Aegean islands. The system is tailored to counter Turkey’s large drone fleet.

On the naval front, Greece has purchased three FDI HN frigates from France with the option for a fourth one. It is also in the final stages of selecting four more corvettes for its already sizable navy.

Greece maintains the largest tank force among NATO’s European members…..

AUTHOR

CHRISTINE DOUGLASS-WILLIAMS

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