Turkish Navy

An article by Vassilis Nedos which appeared in Kathimerini's Sunday edition on May 10, titled "Ankara's militarization on Athens' radar," refers to Rear Admiral Cihat Yayci's book "Requirements of Greece: The Problems in the Aegean with Questions and Answers," which was published recently by the Turkish Navy.

Rear Admiral Cihat Yayci, architect of Turkey's policy on Libya and maritime borders in the Mediterranean Sea, has been removed as Chief of Staff of the Turkish Navy, according to reports in the Turkish media.

The reasons behind the decision, which was reportedly signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Friday, have not been officially confirmed.

As Turkish officials hold talks with counterparts in Washington, Berlin and Brussels over possible new foreign funding, Greek policy is guided by the need to stay clear of Ankara's domestic exigencies, Kathimerini understands. 

Frigates of the Turkish and Italian navies conducted a joint training session in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey's National Defense Ministry said on April 24. 

Greece on Tuesday condemned Turkey's announced intention to continue drilling inside Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), saying it ignores calls by the international community to respect international law.

Turkey continues to use a domestically-built maritime patrol aircraft in missions from the Black Sea to the Aegean and from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Libyan coast. 

The P235 was produced as a part of the Meltem-2 Project and was added to the Turkish Navy's inventory in 2014.

One of the Turkish Navy's most critical striking forces, the TCG Salihreis frigate, will take part in a NATO drill aiming to boost cooperation between allied countries.  

The Dynamic Manta 2020 drill - an annual advanced anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare exercise - kicked off on Feb. 24 off Italy's Sicily Island and will continue through March 6. 

The crossing of the Oruc Reis research vessel into the area of Greece's continental shelf placed authorities in Athens in a state of alert on Friday, but the Turkish vessel was seen leaving the vicinity early on Saturday.

The staff of Turkish Navy frigate TCG Gaziantep, which is on a Mediterranean duty to support NATO's Operation Sea Guardian, rescued 30 migrants on a drifting dingy off Libya.

Spotting the unregistered migrants on the boat, the frigate intervened.

With regional tensions simmering, Athens and Nicosia see Ankara's moves in the Eastern Mediterranean over the last six months as part of an organized plan developed by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO).