Greek jets accused of harassing Turkish boat in Aegean

Turkey on Tuesday accused Greek fighter jets of harassing a Turkish boat in the Aegean as tensions rise again between the NATO allies over maritime issues, Agence France-Presse reported.

Greek-Turkish ties are already strained over Ankara’s gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, although they held direct talks last month for the first time in nearly five years.

In the dispute’s latest chapter, Turkey last week sent the Çeşme research vessel into international waters near some Greek islands, prompting Athens to lodge a diplomatic protest.

On Tuesday a Turkish defense ministry source said four Greek F-16 fighter jets engaged in “provocative action” and “harassed the Cesme vessel in the northern Aegean’s international waters.”

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters that a “necessary response was given.”

“Unfortunately, this is one of the frequent harassments by our Greek neighbors,” Akar said in Ankara.

The Turkish defense source said one of the Greek planes dropped a chaff cartridge two nautical miles (3.7 nautical kilometers) away from the Turkish ship.

The cartridges are used to confuse or disable an opponent’s radar.

The Greek defense ministry said its air force was conducting a military exercise some distance from the Turkish vessel and denied any harassment.

“No Greek fighter jets flew near the Turkish vessel,” the Greek defense ministry said.

The scene was set for tensions when Turkey announced last Monday the Çeşme would conduct a hydrographic survey from Feb. 18 until March 2.

Greek government spokesman Christos Tarantilis called it “an unnecessary move which does not help positive sentiment.”

Akar defended Turkey’s actions, insisting the survey was “completely hydrographic, technical” and saying Greece had conducted similar work in the past.

“Turkey has always been on the side of dialogue,” Akar said.

Pushed by the European Union to hold talks, Turkish and Greek officials last month held talks in İstanbul, the first since 2016.

There was no breakthrough and the two sides only agreed for the talks to resume in Athens.

The Greek foreign ministry said last week the next round in Athens could be held in early March, pending a reply from Turkey.

The crisis over the eastern Mediterranean re-erupted last summer when Ankara sent a research ship into waters claimed by Greece.