Greek ship unexpectedly entered Turkish waters during the pursuit of a smuggler
Greek border guards crossed the Turkish border during a chase of a smuggler’s boat, causing a moderate reaction from the Turkish authorities.
Photo: Video still from Haber3.com
The incident, which caused diplomatic tension, occurred on Friday morning when a Greek Coast Guard patrol vessel entered Turkish territorial waters near Bodrum, reports Ekathimerini.
Around 11 a.m., the ship, which was chasing suspects involved in smuggling illegal migrants, ended up just a few dozen meters from the Turkish shore, surprising beachgoers. Tourists witnessed the chase and immediately reported it to Turkish authorities.
The smuggler, who was aboard a speedboat, landed on the shore and fled. However, he was apprehended by Turkish law enforcement just a few hours later.
Following this incident, Turkey expressed concern and requested explanations from Greek authorities.
The Greek Coast Guard explained that, despite the risks, they couldn’t call off the chase due to the danger posed to people vacationing on tourist boats in the area.
Later, Turkish media published a video showing the Greek patrol leaving the area after crossing the border.
It should be noted that last December, Greece and Turkey announced the restart of cooperation. During Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Athens, the parties signed a declaration of friendship and good neighborliness.
According to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, particular attention will be paid to joint border protection and the reduction of migrant flows, which has already yielded noticeable results.
Erdoğan confirmed Turkey's readiness to discuss all disputed issues, including migration and security in the Aegean Sea.