Competition with Turkey rises below the surface

Turkey's recent announcement of plans to significantly strengthen its naval force is seen in Athens as an attempt to level the playing field with Greece, amid an increase in tension between the two neighbors over maritime borders and energy rights in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking at the delivery ceremony of a new type of Firtina self-propelled guns at the BMC factory near Ankara on Monday, Turkish President Erdogan said that the first unmanned aircraft carrier, the frigate Istanbul and the Piri Reis submarine would be joining the Turkish fleet this year.

Meanwhile, Turkey's defense minister, Hulusi Akar, warned Greece on Monday to "keep out of trouble" as he carried out an inspection of the new Piri Reis, one of six Type-214, or Reis-Class submarines currently under construction by Turkey, using German technology

These submarines are almost...