Greece 'deploys fleet' to Aegean Sea amid rising tensions with Turkey: reports

Greece has reportedly deployed its whole fleet to the Aegean Sea as tensions with Turkey build, according to multiple news outlets and social media commentators. 

The Greek navy has mobilised whole or parts of its fleet to participate in exercises with French forces, according to news outlet Greek City Times.

The ENTIRE Greek fleet is now in the Aegean Sea.

This comes following revelations that the Turkish military held an online meeting in the middle of the night to discuss possibilities of invading the Greek islands, as well as very clear threats made in recent days against Greece. https://t.co/l0WGL6I5mm

— Paul Antonopoulos 🇬🇷🇨🇾 (@oulosP) September 27, 2022

"Frigates, submarines, missile boats, gunboats, helicopters and fighter aircraft, including Rafale fighter jets, are in full formation and deployment, loaded with all their weapon systems," the Greek outlet claimed, adding that the focus of the exercises would be anti-submarine, anti-aircraft and surface warfare. 

The New Arab has reached out to Greece's ministry of defence for comment. 

The news comes days after Turkey summoned Greece's ambassador to protest an alleged deployment of armoured vehicles on islands near Turkey's Aegean coast.

Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported on Sunday that Turkish drones found Greek forces deploying tactical armoured vehicles on two islands with non-military status. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also accused Greece of playing "perilous games" and staging "provocations" amid heightened tensions between Athens and Ankara.  

Greece rejected Turkey's claims as "completely unfounded and incompatible with international law", and accused the Turkish government of aggressive behaviour, according to Al Jazeera.

Last week, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accused Turkey of "playing [a] destabilising role in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the Caucasus" at the UN.

Turkey and Greece, both of which are members of the NATO alliance, have longstanding disputes over their maritime borders and energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean seas.