The Turkish Air Force has withdrawn from an international military exercise due to take place in Greece in May, Turkish security sources said on Saturday, claiming preparatory documents were aimed at Ankara.
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The Tiger Meet military exercise, organized each year by a coalition of various NATO air forces, is scheduled for May 9-20 in Athens this year.
According to Turkish security sources, the text of the technical regulations that the host countries are drafting ahead of the exercise is targeting Turkey this year, with additions on “inconsistencies between the two countries.” These sources did not provide any further details.
The additions “intended” for Turkish authorities prompted Air Force Command to request changes, which Greece rejected, the sources said.
Turkey has therefore decided not to attend an event that “manipulates Greece for its political interests” and informed the Greek authorities of its decision on April 22, they added.
Greece and Turkey, NATO allies but regional rivals in the eastern Mediterranean, regularly accuse each other of violating their airspace.
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Last Friday, Ankara claimed Greek warplanes violated its airspace over the Aegean Sea, which Turkish security sources said happened 30 times in 72 hours.