Turkish patrol boat threatens to arrest Greek fisherman in Greek waters

Turkey escalates provocation across Aegean with sea and air violations

A serious incident took place on Good Friday, when a Turkish patrol boat threatened to arrest a Greek fishing boat in the Greek sea waters. The episode started when a Turkish patrol boat warned a Greek fishing boat to leave the area near the Greek island of Inousses claiming it was in Turkish waters. The captain refused and the Turkish boat threatened to arrest the crew. The Greek coast guard was unable to defuse the situation, but when the Greek navy gunboat “Krateos’ arrived on the scene the Turkish patrol boat retreated after negotiations. The incident was relayed to the Greek military and political leadership and was estimated as ‘very serious’. Meanwhile, 6 Turkish fighter planes violated Greek airspace on Good Friday in the northeast, central and southeast Aegean. Turkish F-16 fighter jets flew over the isles of Makronisi and Anthropofagoi.