Erdogan threatens Athens with Tayfun missile, talks of Thrace and drilling

The Turkish leadership and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continue their saber rattling against Greece, while also focusing on Turkey’s summer presidential elections.

The Turkish president, in an interview, referred (again) to the launch of the “Tayfun” ballistic missile, claiming that Athens “is within its range”, adding that its range, which now reaches 561 kilometers, “will increase”. According to Erdogan, in fact, the test launch of the said weapon “caused panic among the Greeks”.

At the same time, he announced drilling, south of Crete, within the framework of the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum, while making special reference to Thrace.

“Athens is in range of Tayfun”

“The Tayfun test drove Greece crazy. We will continue to develop the technology of the Tayfun ballistic missile and increase its range. That is more than 561 kilometers. Of course, the Greeks were afraid, as Athens is within his reach,” said Erdogan and added:

“We will give good news about much more. We have brought our defense industry to this point despite obstacles. In 2023, the national fighter jet will hopefully come out of the hangar. We will commission the first of our frigates, which will strengthen our power in the seas. Rocket development continues within Roketsan.”

“Greece get it together”

The Turkish president, at the same time, called Greece to… get it together.

“Certainly Greece has been following an aggressive policy against Turkey for the last period. This is unacceptable. Against this attitude we will not be silent and we will react not with words but with deeds. So Greece should get it together,” Erdogan said.

Referring to gas exploration in the Mediterranean, Erdogan noted that negotiations with Russia for an energy hub are ongoing.

Drilling and Thrace

“The Ministry of Energy is doing extensive work. The region of Thrace is considered as the closest place to create an energy hub for production and distribution of natural gas in Europe. With the drilling and research vessels we have both in the Black Sea and in the Mediterranean, we have the opportunity to drill in various areas and extract natural gas from there and sell it to third countries,” he said, although the UN and the West did not recognize the Turkish-Libyan memoranda.

He continued, arguing according to Sky, which also publishes relevant maps, that “proposals are coming in this direction from various countries. “First in line is Libya. They tell us that we can enter into this kind of cooperation. There is this situation.”

Hagia Sophia in the picture

In addition, he also referred to Hagia Sophia and shared memories of his youth, when together with other like-minded friends he participated in rallies with the aim of turning the monument into a mosque.

“Thank God we were lucky enough to open it. It is impossible to forget this. We have broken the chains and freed Hagia Sophia,” he said defiantly.