Erdogan indirectly threatens Athens with a missile attack
In a long line of hostile statements made towards Greece, the Turkish president added one on Sunday – in a meeting with youth.
Once again, Greece’s neighbor threatens to attack: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Photo: Keystone
In the dispute over the Greek islands in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indirectly threatened to launch a missile attack if Greece “does not calm down”. Erdogan said Sunday evening in a meeting with young men in Samsun, northern Turkey, that Greece is concerned because the Turkish-developed “Tayfon” missile may also hit Athens. “Of course, this production makes the Greeks nervous. I mentioned Tayfun and the Greek became nervous.” The Greeks said that the missile could hit Athens. “Yes, of course you will,” he added. If Greece does not settle on the islands, “if it tries to take something from us here and there, then of course a country like Turkey will not stand idly by and do something.”
Turkey challenges Greek sovereignty over many inhabited and uninhabited Greek islands in the eastern Mediterranean and demands the withdrawal of all Greek forces from those islands. The situation between the two NATO partners in the Aegean Sea is very tense at the moment. Erdogan had repeatedly threatened Greece in the past few weeks with the phrase: “We could come suddenly one night.”
The range of the “Typhoon” ballistic missile, developed by the arms manufacturer Roketsan, is estimated to be at least 300 kilometers, according to state broadcaster TRT. The missile was successfully tested in the Black Sea in October.
Erdogan announces his latest candidacy for 2023
Also in Samsun, Erdogan announced that he will not run again if he wins the elections next year. The 68-year-old said he will ask the nation’s support “one last time” in 2023. After that, he will be handed over to younger politicians. Erdogan, along with his conservative Islamist party, the Justice and Development Party, hopes for success in the parliamentary and presidential elections, which will be held in June at the latest.
However, in view of the inflation, which has exceeded 80 percent, Erdogan is under a lot of pressure. According to a November survey, neither an alliance of six opposition parties nor the AKP with its partner, the ultra-nationalist MHP, currently has an absolute majority. Even Erdogan’s victory in the simultaneous presidential elections is far from certain.
The six opposition parties, including the centre-left Republican People’s Party (CHP), have joined forces with the aim of replacing Erdoğan. The coalition has not yet announced a presidential candidate. Erdoğan has been in power for nearly 20 years – first as prime minister and since 2014 as president. Five years ago, the parliamentary system was replaced by a presidential system in a referendum – since then the president has enjoyed much more powers.
SDA
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