Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern warning to Greece, saying the country would pay a “heavy price” if it continued to “harass” Turkish planes. Erdogan spoke during a rally in the Black Sea region, telling those present to “look at history”. “If you go further, you will pay a heavy price,” he said of Greece. “We have one thing to say to Greece: Remember Smyrna,” he added, referring to the city Turkey “liberated” from Greece in 1922 as part of its war of independence, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. “When the time comes, we will do whatever it takes,” he continued. “As we say, out of the blue, we can come overnight.” TENSION BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE PUSHES THE NATO ALLIANCE Erdogan’s comments may have come in response to a remark by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos, who in June argued that Turkey “realized” the “heavy cost” Turkey faced in its military engagements with Athens. ANKARA, TURKEY – JUNE 02 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during the High School Students Research Project Final Competition and Awards Ceremony at Bestepe People’s Convention and Culture Center in Ankara, Turkey on June 02, 2022. ((Photo by Mustafa Kamaci/ Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)) “It is our capabilities that prevent the other side from daring a military engagement, because they know the heavy cost they will have to pay,” he told the Manifesto newspaper. “Our armed forces are at all times alert, fully prepared and determined.” DENMARK EXPECTS A WINTER WITHOUT COVID RESTRICTIONS Turkey has accused Greece of deploying troops on Aegean islands in violation of peace treaties between the NATO neighbors. The Greek flag painted on a hill in Pserimos. Turkey claims Greece is violating international treaties with what it says is the militarization of its islands in the eastern Aegean. (Ali Balli/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.) “Owning the islands does not bind us,” Erdogan said. POLAND TO SEEK $1.3 trillion in reparations from Germany Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in June that his country would challenge any Greek claims to the islands if they continued to station troops across the area, AFP reported. In this photo provided by the Turkish Presidency, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a rare meeting between the neighbors who have been at odds over maritime and energy issues, the status of Aegean islands and immigration. (Turkish Presidency via AP) (AP) But Panagiotopoulos insisted that Greece has not cut off “channels of communication”, but noted that “dialogue is inconsistent with aggressive rhetoric and provocative behaviour”. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The Turkish president must understand that… [Greece] it will not cut corners in defending its sovereign rights,” the minister said. Peter Aitken is a Fox News Digital reporter with a focus on national and global news.
