A senior Turkish opposition figure has claimed that next-generation radar systems being installed across Greece, the Aegean and Cyprus could feed surveillance data directly to Israel, in remarks that touch on what he described as a growing pattern of political and military cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Yankı Bağcıoğlu, deputy chairman of Turkey’s main opposition party CHP, claimed that possible installations of weapons systems and next-generation AESA radar in Greece, the Aegean and Cyprus could enable continuous surveillance of the region even in peacetime, with the data gathered potentially transferred to Israel to enhance its surveillance capabilities.
Bağcıoğlu also claimed that any deployment of such systems on Aegean islands with demilitarised status could constitute a violation of international treaties, including the Treaty of Lausanne and the Paris Treaties, and called on Ankara to keep the issue on its diplomatic agenda.
He made specific reference to the installation of a Patriot battery in Karpathos, arguing that while it was presented as a response to an Iranian threat, it was in his assessment part of an effort to “erode” the Paris Treaty.
On the broader cooperation between Israel, Greece and Cyprus, Bağcıoğlu claimed that Israel is “first building political and then military cooperation” with the two countries, adding that joint activities such as training and exercises “are not new” but are becoming more visible.
He also called on Greek political leadership to reconsider its stance toward Israel, and made personal reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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