This is the last article you can read this month
You can read more article this month
You can read more articles this month
Sorry your limit is up for this month
Reset on:
Please help support the Morning Star by subscribing here
TURKEY accused Greece today of targeting its fighter jets over international waters by “locking on” surface-to-air missiles as they carried out a reconnaissance flight.
A missile lock-on is defined as a hostile act in Nato rules of engagement and the incident underlines worsening relations between the eastern Mediterranean neighbours, technically Nato allies.
It follows Ankara’s complaint to Nato last week that Greek F-16s had harassed its own F-16s when they were “conducting a mission for the alliance,” apparently by escorting US B-52 bombers. Greece’s Defence Ministry said the bombers had not been supposed to have an escort and Turkish war planes had invaded skies subject to its flight control.
Both Greece and Turkey claim their aircraft forced their rivals out of the area in that episode.
Tensions between the countries have at times threatened a deeper Nato breach, with clashes over drilling rights in the Mediterranean drawing the French navy in to back up Greece in 2020.
