Türkiye formally protests US, Greece over armored vehicles deployed on Aegean islands

Photo: AA

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given formal protest notes to the ambassadors of the US and Greece, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported, citing diplomatic sources.

The protest notes concern Greece's recent deployment of US-made armored vehicles on the islands of Lesvos (Midilli) and Samos (Sisam), which Ankara says violated the treaties of Lausanne and Paris.

Greece was asked to end the violations and restore the islands' non-military status as per the treaties.

The US ambassador was also reminded of the requirements of the treaties and asked Washington to take the necessary measures to prevent the use of US weapons in the violation of the status.

Yesterday (September 25), AA released footage obtained from Türkiye's army drones, which purportedly showed the deployment of the military vehicles on the islands.

According to security sources cited by AA, the Turkish Armed Forces drones performing flight missions over the Aegean Sea recorded two landing ships en route to the islands on September 18 and 21.

It was revealed that the ships were carrying 23 tactical wheeled armored vehicles to Lesvos and 18 to Samos, according to the report. The armored vehicles were among those sent by the US to the Port of Alexandroupolis of Greece. (VK)