Scenarios of “encirclement” of Turkey are featured on the front page of the pro-government Turkish newspaper Türkiye, adopting a new narrative targeting Greece and Israel. The publication describes a “dangerous” and “expansionist” strategy, linking it to broader geopolitical developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus. Particularly characteristic is the use of terms like “axis of evil” and “new provocation,” clearly demonstrating attempts to dramatize the situation. Additionally, assessments are presented suggesting that the alleged plan could even lead to a Greek-Turkish conflict, escalating the climate of concern.
Read: Is Turkey threatened by the Greek Achilles Shield: What Turkish media report
In the same context, statements are featured presenting these developments as part of a broader strategic plan ultimately targeting Cyprus, while describing “irrational” or “dangerous” initiatives. “Besides Cyprus, which has become a military base, Israel has set its sights on the Aegean. Greece will lease Aegean islands to Israel for 40-50 years.
The Israeli government plans to transform Greek islands into refuges. According to the plan developed by the Blue and White party of Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, Greek islands will be leased or purchased for a 40-50 year period with resources provided by the Jewish National Fund (JNF).
The Foreign Minister of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu stated: “This initiative cannot be considered independent from the Greek islands. The main target is the island of Cyprus. This is clear madness and a repetition of the Palestinian occupation plan from the early 20th century. Neither Northern Cyprus nor the motherland, Turkey, can remain indifferent to such a fait accompli. Israel’s settlement on the islands constitutes a clear cause for war,” declared Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, describing it as a ‘poisonous plan.’
“We have the right to intervene”
“They want to expel Turkey from Cyprus, drawing an ‘Iron Dome’ line extending from the Aegean to Cyprus, and transform the Aegean, along with the Mediterranean, into a lake for Israel and Greece. Neither the ‘TRNC’ nor the motherland, Turkey, can allow this,” Ertuğruloğlu stated, adding: “The plan is poisonous and we certainly must be prepared not only rhetorically, but also militarily, diplomatically and politically against this siege and desire for a form of hostage-taking. From an international law perspective, a step in this direction clearly creates our right to intervene. On the other hand, this would be suicide for both Israel and Greece,” the Turkish Cypriot official argued.
“Israel aims for Greek-Turkish war, Turkey ready for anything”
Meanwhile, retired Turkish Navy admiral and professor Dr. Celalettin Yavuz, one of the leading experts on Aegean and Greek geopolitics, drew attention to the so-called “disputed status” of 152 islands, while characterizing the new alleged Greece-Israel approach as a revival of the ‘Great Idea.’
“The Jewish desire for the Aegean has many similarities with Greece’s Great Idea. There is an image of alliance between Arzimevut and the Great Idea,” he told the Türkiye newspaper, while arguing that Israel aims to provoke a Greek-Turkish war. “This Israeli initiative or propaganda also carries the risk of triggering a Turkish-Greek war. We must be careful.
Greece, at the point it has reached, has lost all hope from NATO and the EU. It sees Israel as the only power it can rely on against Turkey. Within the framework of the Turkish threat perception they jointly create with Israel, they plan to transform the Aegean islands into a Jewish refuge and, under this pretext, construct the Israeli ‘Iron Dome’ defense system in the region.”
The publication also emphasizes the military dimension, with references to Turkey’s readiness to respond. “However, today there is a strong Turkey and we are a state militarily prepared for any eventuality. For Israel, these are not surprising moves. It is known to all of us that they have dark plans for Cyprus. It is obvious how effective the Jewish lobby is against Turkey, especially regarding the F-16 and F-35 aircraft. All these obstacles were created taking into account today’s conditions,” the newspaper report states.
“Turkey must monitor the Aegean”
Meanwhile, retired military officer Ibrahim Buyukbas also stated that the Aegean is not simply a sea for Turkey. “The place that Israel enters today as a ‘refuge’ will tomorrow become a massive intelligence base and an occupation garrison similar to that in Palestine.”
Buyukbas added: “History has taught us painfully that the Jewish instinct, when buying land, aims to draw a map of occupation. It is obvious that a new demographic and ownership-based game is forming in the Aegean and Mediterranean. The Zionist regime is reshaping geography under the pretext of ‘security.’ Turkey must monitor real-time ownership movements on Aegean islands, as it does in Cyprus. A more proactive policy must be followed regarding maritime zones and islands. An operational response, including the use of military force, must be given to any action that disrupts the island regime. This threat, which advances silently and insidiously, must definitely be neutralized.”
