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'Turkey surrounds Greece', Greek media: Agreements with Albania, Kosovo and RMV change the balance in the Balkans

Politiko 2025-03-19 17:46:36

'Turkey surrounds Greece', Greek media: Agreements with Albania,
Turkey is preparing to ratify military agreements with three Balkan countries surrounding Greece, increasing its presence in the region and expanding its influence, Greek media outlet  Greek City Times reports. 

These agreements were signed in 2024 with Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia, during a period of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece has expressed concern about Turkey’s strengthening of defense cooperation, especially in areas of historical and strategic importance. The Balkans has long been an area of ​​competing influence between NATO allies and outside powers, and Turkey’s deepening military relations with these countries indicate its intention to play a more active role in shaping regional security.

The agreements were quickly put on the agenda of the Turkish Parliament, in contrast to the usual lengthy approval processes for similar military deals. Ankara sees them as part of a broader strategy to increase defense cooperation and address regional security threats.

According to the agreements, Turkey and its partners will cooperate in various military and defense sectors such as training, joint exercises, defense industry cooperation, information exchange, logistical support, medical services, cyber defense, peacekeeping missions and counter-mine and improvised explosive devices. They also provide for personnel exchanges, joint research in military science and technology, and operational cooperation in humanitarian aid and disaster response missions.

Turkey views these formal military agreements as a springboard for deeper defense ties and future deals, starting with the sale of drones from Baykar but expanding to various defense products. Nordic Monitor reported that Turkey uses broader framework agreements to keep the details of subsequent deals hidden from the public.

Brigadier General Esat Mahmut Yilmaz revealed that Turkey consolidated the three agreements into a framework to accelerate its participation in military operations abroad. Once ratified and published in the Official Gazette, the Turkish military will be able to enter into secondary agreements with foreign partners without further parliamentary approval, limiting public discussion on Turkey's military activities abroad.

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