Turkey's Erdogan warns Greece and Cyprus over Eastern Mediterranean tensions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a forceful speech in Ankara, warning that Turkey will not tolerate any infringement on what he describes as the rights of Turkish Cypriots and the country's maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean. He said, "Στήνονται νέες πλεκτάνες στην Ανατολική Μεσόγειο" (new games are being set up in the Eastern Mediterranean), and warned that any challenge to Turkish law would be met with a "clear and harsh" response.

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, meeting Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Sofia, responded diplomatically, reiterating Greece’s position on the delimitation of its exclusive economic zone and calling for calm. Both sides discussed broader regional issues, including the upcoming July summit in Ankara and the Cyprus situation, while maintaining open communication channels despite the heightened rhetoric.