Turkish provocations test Greece’s resolve

The recent spike in Turkish provocations in the Aegean and incendiary comments emanating from Ankara are aimed at testing Greece’s resolve, according to Greek analysts.

In what was seen as its latest prod, Turkey’s Cesme research vessel conducted surveys yesterday in international waters between the islands of Thasos, Samothrace and Limnos, but within the area of responsibility of the Hellenic Search and Rescue Coordination Center. The night before, the Turkish coast guard conducted patrols around the Imia islets. At the same time, the Cyprus talks are being undermined over what Greeks believe is a minor detail – the decision by the Cyprus Parliament for schools to commemorate a 1950 referendum calling for union with Greece.

In response, Athens is pursuing the principle of proportionality by countering the presence of Turkish military and coast guard vessels with Greek ones, while embarking on a diplomatic campaign at international organizations and in major capitals.

Analysts also attribute the spike in tension to the Supreme Court’s refusal to extradite the Turkish servicemen that Ankara says were involved in the July coup attempt. But they also note that it serves as a convenient pretext for Turkey to up the nationalistic rhetoric ahead of the April 16 referendum called by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a bid to expand his powers.