UAE sends warplanes to Greece for joint drills amid tensions with Turkey

The UAE has sent four warplanes to the southern Greek island of Crete for joint training with Greece's air force, media reported this weekend, as military tensions continued to simmer between Athens and neighbouring Turkey over offshore energy rights.

Greek officials said on Friday that between two and four UAE fighters were expected to reach Souda Naval Base on the weekend and would hold joint training and exercises with the Hellenic Air Force next week. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to discuss the matter with journalists.

The move follows talks between senior Greek and UAE military and government officials.

The UAE is a bitter rival of Turkey - Greece's historic regional rival - in a broader struggle over political Islam, while Abu Dhabi and Ankara back rival factions in the fighting in Libya. Turkey is also angry about the UAE's decision to normalise relations with Israel.

Greece is keen for gestures of international support in its ongoing face-off with Turkey, its much larger and more heavily armed nominal NATO ally. Turkey has sent a warship-escorted research vessel to prospect for oil and gas in eastern Mediterranean waters where Athens claims exclusive rights to the underlying seabed.

Athens responded by summoning the Turkish ships to withdraw, sending its own warships to the area and placing its military on alert.

Ankara says it has every right to prospect in the area between Crete, Cyprus and southern Turkey claimed by Greece, as well as in nearby waters claimed by Cyprus, and will carry on regardless.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warmly welcomed a move by France two weeks ago to send two warships for joint drills with the Greek navy in the area sequestered by Turkey, while two French fighter jets were deployed to the Souda air base for joint flights.

The joint drills drew condemnation from Turkey.

Agencies contributed to this report.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected