US issues ‘friendly warning’ to Türkiye amid rising Eastern Mediterranean tensions

According to claims by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the US administration has recently begun warning Türkiye to avoid experiencing tensions with its neighbors in a “friendly manner and without wagging a finger.”

Basing its claim on diplomatic sources, the newspaper continued:

“In light of this development, Greek diplomats are wondering whether the dogfight between Greek and Turkish F-16 fighter jets on Friday—the first since February 2, 2023—was a one-off incident or a sign that Türkiye is ignoring the message.”

Kathimerini argued that Türkiye wants to purchase F-35s from the US and, therefore, “cannot ignore” American warnings.

The report states, “It is even ready to dispose of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles it purchased, which it previously considered humiliating and practically impossible, by returning them.”

On the other hand, the hoisting of the Greek flag on Greece’s first Belharra frigate, Kimon, is described in the Greek media as an “unquestionably very important event.”

The Kathimerini report notes, “After nearly thirty years, the country is acquiring a significant, state-of-the-art surface combatant at a particularly critical time.”

Representing a qualitative upgrade for the Greek Navy, the Belharra frigates are seen as strategically vital for Greece. These classes of ships are designed for multi-mission roles and feature low observability. Although they have not yet been tested in actual combat conditions, it is believed that the four frigates Greece plans to purchase will radically change the operational landscape in the region.

Thanks to the advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the frigates, the Greek Navy will be able to operate more comfortably beyond Greece’s territorial waters and maintain a permanent presence between Crete and Cyprus.

The report points out that “control of the waterways” is critical due to factors such as Greece’s recent emergence as a transit hub for US natural gas, international interest in its ports, and its potential participation in the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC):

“Since 1830, the most consistent element of Greek foreign policy has been its alignment with Western maritime powers. This is a strategic choice adopted by generations of Greeks and is unlikely to change. Geography has always been both our destiny and our opportunity.”

Highlighting that the purchase of the frigates enables Athens to participate in the multinational operations and missions of NATO and the EU, Kathimerini claims, “In this way, Athens will strengthen its negotiating power within the Western camp and its relations with other friendly countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.”