Greece claims Turkey tried to help migrants enter its waters

Greek authorities said Wednesday they have thwarted an attempt by Turkish coast guard vessels to escort a boat carrying migrants into Greek waters off the eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesvos.

A coast guard statement said the migrant boat was spotted in Turkish waters early Wednesday, and nearby Turkish patrol boats ignored repeated appeals to stop it before eventually picking up the migrants several hours later.

"The boat did not enter Greek waters at any point, despite efforts by the Turkish patrol boats to escort it in," the statement said.

Relations between the two historic rivals are tense over offshore exploration rights and an attempted incursion into Greece by thousands of asylum-seekers this year.

Greece has stepped up security at its land and sea frontier with Turkey since late February, when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Turkey's...