Ambassador ad hon. George Kaklikis, in his article for the newspaper TA NEA, explains why Turkey chose to request a moratorium on military exercises in the Aegean at this given moment of the unfolding pandemic. Kaklikis explains that the Turkish Defense Minister made the proposal at a time when rumors of coronavirus victims amidst the Turkish Armed Forces are growing while, simultaneously, the financial crisis in the country is dramatically worsening. What is certainly also reflected in this decision is the sharp decline in Erdogan’s popularity, who is struggling to maintain his image as an unwavering leader despite the challenges he is facing in Syria and Libya, notes Kaklikis. In any case, the Greek side accepted Akar’s proposal and suspended all large and medium-scale operations on May 9.
You can find the article here.
