The Mavi Vatan (Blue Homeland) 2022 naval exercise, which was held simultaneously in the Aegean and Black seas and the eastern Mediterranean with the participation of 122 ships and 41 aircraft, started on April 11 and ended on Thursday. Although the exercise covers three seas, it still highlights Turkey’s continuous targeting of Greek islands as it did the previous year. The fact that the imaginary enemy in the war games is Greece also confirms this.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar attended the exclusive observer day activities and addressed a group of officers, including foreign military attachés. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated the participants via video link.
The exercise, named after Mavi Vatan, an aggressive naval doctrine identified with Turkey’s policy in the Mediterranean, included a scenario in which Turkish commandos captured an island and planted a Turkish flag.
According to the plan, underwater offense teams (SAT) started to attack targets on Yılancık Island, near Muğla. While one team dropped into the water from a helicopter, another team approached the island underwater. The teams were accompanied by another team that parachuted down to the island from a helicopter. After the teams destroyed the enemy targets, the Turkish flag was raised on the “captured” island.
Despite the fact that the exercise was conducted with Greece in mind, the Ministry of Defense in a message it posted on Twitter advised that Defense Minister Akar extended a hand of peace to Greece and that this friendly hand, which was sincerely extended, should be taken.
In his speech to the observer delegation, which he reserved entirely for Greece, Akar said the current problems with Greece should be resolved within the framework of good neighborly relations in accordance with international law.
Accusing Greece of being slow to engage in dialogue, Akar said they expect the neighboring country to be more active. Stating that consultation meetings of military delegations from Greece and Turkey should continue, the minister said they would like to see the Greek delegation in Ankara soon.
Greece’s arms race with Turkey has further damaged its poor economy, Akar said, adding that the Greek people suffered the most from this.
Saying that they cannot ignore some actual situations, Akar stated that the most valid and important agreement between Turkey and Greece is the Lausanne Treaty, which states that 23 specifically described islands must never be armed. However, he said Greece has carried out a military buildup on 16 of those islands, adding, “If we are to comply with international law, we must start here.”
Read more: Nordic Monitor
