Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is once again demanding that Greece demilitarize its Aegean islands, warning Athe...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is once again demanding that Greece demilitarize its Aegean islands, warning Athens to reverse what he called "the wrong path it has chosen." Erdogan made the remarks to journalists while returning from Kyrgyzstan, where he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. He said Greece must stop what he described as the militarization of islands that hold demilitarized status under international treaties. "Turkey does not covet anyone's territory, but it will not allow anyone to trample on its rights," Erdogan said, directing the warning squarely at Athens. He added that "history is a very good guide for those who learn from it," a phrase widely read as a veiled threat. Greece has consistently rejected Turkish demands over Aegean island militarization, arguing that the deployments are a legitimate defensive response to Turkish provocations and overflights. Athens maintains that Ankara has no standing to dictate the security arrangements of Greek sovereign territory. The remarks come as tensions between the two NATO members remain elevated, with Turkey repeatedly raising the island militarization issue at bilateral talks and in international forums. Greece has shown no indication it intends to comply with Erdogan's demands. This is not the first time Erdogan has used the phrase "wrong path" when referring to Greek defense policy. Turkish officials have long argued that Greek fortifications on eastern Aegean islands violate the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty. Greece disputes that interpretation entirely. #Greece #Turkey #Aegean