The Turkish frigate "Salih Reis" was sailing in the early morning hours of Tuesday south of the Greek island of Rhodes, heading westwards towards the Cyclades islands, in international waters, a National Defence General Staff (Geetha) announcement said.

The frigate then headed northwards, entering Greek national waters between Kea and Makronissos islands shortly afterwards, and later sailed through the Kafirea straits in a northeasterly direction in international waters, towards the central Aegean.

The Turkish frigate was shadowed by Greek vessels, the announcement added.


Does this sort of incidents happen often between Neo-Ottomans and Hellenics?
It's quite disrespectful and even provocative to simply cross another country's national waters without asking, even if they are technically allies.


Few years ago, back in 1996/1997, a Spanish Puma and F/A-18 fighters flew over an unhabited Portuguese island on the North Atlantic. Spanish ambassador appologised, but it happened again. Both countries have outstanding relations, but the Government didn't take this lightly and sent the Navy to "reinforce" the island. A fighter fly-by happened again in 2007.

It's really not a big deal between both countries, relations are great and considering the island is not much larger than a rock with animals, closer to the Canary Islands than Madeira, but Turkish military entering so deep in Greek national space (aren't Kea and Makronissos near the mainland?) is a whole different matter.

I'd really pissed off if I were Greek.