Turkey

[Don Giovanni]

Here you go Reaper

Mitsotakis is getting a better handle of the situation, but it's very dangerous still and things could come to a head if migrants start to drown should these incidents continue like this. Hopefully with action like this the migrants will think twice about crossing.

It makes me sick to my stomach that Greeks are being conscripted to stand up and defend our way of life and borders, yet many of these migrant men, who are the majority of people trying to invade our country, don't fight for democracy and freedom in their own countries. They're deserters. It's time to start calling them that! And more over, they're making it impossible for real refugees to be processed.

Also, a Greek orthodox church was vandalized on Lesbos. This is who is coming in. Doesn't it just warm your heart.

[Filikieteria1821]

The UK has been anti-Greek for a very long time. The Cyprus problem was orchestrated by the UK, and to this day, the UK holds the parthenon marbles and cozzies up to Turkey, so it's very clear that they are no friend of Greece. Them trying to go to Turkey, while Turkey wages migrant warfare on Greece and the EU, is just a way of sticking it to the EU.

I would have no issue if migrants were legitimately fleeing Syria and seeking refuge in Greece. Back when Greeks needed help, many found refuge in Syria and when wars were over returned to Greece. What we all have issue with are these bums from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and whatever country you can pull out, that are looking for a quick way to Germany or whatever EU country with a good economy and benefits.

The UN is not in a position to speak on anything. Instead of holding Turkey to task over their use of these migrants and illegal invasion in Syria, they are speaking out of their ass. Another mouthpiece for the Turks as they try to spread fake images, stories, etc through all media platforms.

Greece needs to stand its ground, and keep on with the pressure. I am very surprised and quite pleased with how unified Greeks have become, as stories have emerged that local residents of Evros and nearby areas have cooked/supplied food to the army/police.

This is a pivotal moment and so far we are doing what's needed

[Soprano76]

Even the agrotes and kindinoi in around the Evros area have volunteering their time and equipment to protect the border and apprehend any who may cross. The islands however, are suffering. There was a false rumor spreading around the Moria camp that the refugees were going to be shipped to the mainland so a lot of them took off the limani at Mytilini. There is currently a showdown happening there.

[Filikieteria1821]

They need to first figure out what they're going to do with the migrants on the islands and it can either be deporting them to turkey (not likely) or playing hard ball and veto every EU legislation that comes forward, until other member states agree to take in a percentage of the migrants already in Greece.

Greece has shown some teeth these past few days, but they need to ramp up the pressure on the EU because right now Germany is obviously in bed with Turkey, and so are other EU leaders with their timid responses and their "turkey is not our enemy" talk. Time to play hardball.

The EU needs to stop treating Turkey like an ally, and more like a big enemy.

[Reaper]

I think Greece should not under any circumstances build any refugee centres on any populated Greek island. Greece should build the deportation centre on an island close to turkey that has no people living on it. I would not even let the migrants experience Lesbos or Xios. The minute the NGOs meet them on the beaches - straight to the migrant deportation island.

Mitsotakis's speech today with the EU Turkophiles:

[Reaper]

NGOs and left wing journalists decide to leave Lesbos for their own safety as locals have turned on them.

https://www.news247.gr/koinonia/ektos-elegchoy-katoikoi-lesvoy-apochoroyn-ergazomenoi-mko-dimosiografoi.7594307.html?fbclid=IwAR0v7fGrE24V8K 6f3OJ324Q3G5iT3RMhVQJ0xteZm1EEmPd92Gd_rwNferU

[Don Giovanni]

Good riddance.

[Don Giovanni]

I read Tsipras complain that, given Erdogan's past threats, more should have been done to bring these trespassers on to the main land so room could be made the new arrivals! It's because of him and his way of thinking that Erdogan is emboldened enough to think he can get away with these tactics. He doesn't expect Greece to protect her borders and deny these people entry. He thought a replay of 2015 would happen. So far, it has not and the migrants are finding out the hard way that they shall not pass. The only thing Tsipras got right was the part on the messaging. The EU has not condemned Turkey harshly enough for these antics.

[Don Giovanni]

Before there were suggestions the US would provide weapons, but now they've said they will only offer aid. It looks like the US is staying out of Turkey's bonehead occupation of Syria.

[Filikieteria1821]

Yep, Esper said that the US is looking into aid for Turkey in the form of money/supplies for migrants - not actual weapons.

Trump may be up Erdogan's ass - but he's not stupid enough to get into a full on military battle versus Russia, over Syria.

The US' goals in Syria have almost fully been reached. They've taken control of some oil, and although they would ideally oust Assad, they won't so long as Russia is propping him up.

At this juncture, Turkey is going to keep ramping up the pressure on the EU and Erdogan even admitted that the only way things calm down is if the EU gives Turkey support in it's fight to annex Idlib. The EU is in bed with Turkey, but I'm unsure if there will EU wide support for Turkey, but I do suspect that the likes of Germany will gladly supply Turkey with as much weaponry as possible

[Soprano76]

I hate the Turkish mindset so much. It's no longer feasible, but I would love to take Adrianoupolis, Constantinoupoli, Smyrna and the Pontus region from these fuckers. TBH Greece should wage a massive propaganda campaign to expose the Turk's Greek roots.

[Filikieteria1821]

Greece has resorted to playing the obedient country for awhile now. I truly believe the losses during the asia minor campaign and cyprus, effectively neutered Greek foreign policy.

They had opportunities to reassert themselves against the fakedonians (as I like to call them) via military mite but opted to let them push the narrative.

Greece has to figure out how to operate like a legitimate country and not just be the nice boy. Greece obeys orders, but instead should be unpredictable and garner more concessions for support

[Don Giovanni]

I think Greece should not under any circumstances build any refugee centres on any populated Greek island. Greece should build the deportation centre on an island close to turkey that has no people living on it. I would not even let the migrants experience Lesbos or Xios. The minute the NGOs meet them on the beaches - straight to the migrant deportation island.

Mitsotakis's speech today with the EU Turkophiles:

The speech and his rhetoric is going over pretty well. So far, only the UN and some pro-migrant voices in the media are highlighting Greek actions as hostile or authoritarian (like how Tsipras tried to make them out to be). Even other leaders in EU countries are calling out Turkey's actions for what they are, but Mitsotakis hit the nail on the head by claiming Turkey is using these people to advance a geopolitical agenda. It's that kind of rhetoric he needs to keep hammering. Frankly, he should dial it up even further and raise questions of Turkey's alliance with jihadis in the region who are responsible for so much of the fighting that resulted in this conflict in the first place.

Greece PM rips Turkey as thousands of migrants seek entry into Europe

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/greece...yria-1.5483563

Mitsotakis said Turkey was breaching a 2016 agreement with the EU on migration and "has systematically encouraged and assisted tens of thousands of refugees and migrants to illegally enter Greece. It has failed, and will continue to fail, should it continue to pursue this strategy."

"This is no longer a refugee problem. This is a blatant attempt by Turkey to use desperate people to promote its geopolitical agenda," he said.

The Greek army and navy held live fire exercises across the eastern border areas for a second day Tuesday to reinforce the message of deterrence.

Greek authorities said they had prevented 26,532 people from entering Greece between Saturday morning and Tuesday afternoon, and arrested 218.

At the border, Greek authorities said the main pressure Tuesday had moved from the official crossing to points farther south along the border. Authorities said they thwarted an attempt by about 1,000 people overnight to make their way across the Evros wetland area, at the southern end of the border.

In the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday morning, Greek authorities said they prevented 5,183 people from entering, and arrested 45, mostly from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Morocco and Bangladesh.

Migrants have also been trying to reach Greek islands from the nearby Turkish coast. A young boy died on Monday after the dinghy he was in capsized off the coast of the island of Lesbos.

Greece's coast guard said 519 people reached nine Greek islands in the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday morning. The number was a sharp drop from the nearly 1,000 people who had arrived the previous day.

The Greek navy said it was sending a transport ship to Lesbos to temporarily house up to 400 migrants in port, following tension with local residents who have refused to allow new arrivals to reach the island's already massively overcrowded migrant camp.

(emphasis mine)

The resulting movement of migrants appeared well organized, with buses, minibuses and cars provided in Istanbul to ferry people to the border. The vast majority appeared to be Afghans, along with people from a wide variety of countries, including Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh and Syria.

And therein lies our challenge.

Here is what the EU is offering in support:

Von der Leyen said EU border protection agency Frontex would send an offshore vessel and three coastal patrol vessels, two helicopters and other aircraft, three thermovision vehicles and add 100 border guards to the 530 it already has in Greece. The EU would also provide 700 million euros in assistance.

Addendum: He's using more of the right language now, like labeling Turkey a smuggler. And the optics are great. He said it right there with some of the EU leading figures by his side. It's this kind of language and these kinds of speeches that he needs to get comfortable with. Well said and well done by our prime minister.

[Don Giovanni]

It's a shame we can't get the US president to speak a little more forcefully on this issue. Trump based his whole campaign on the idea of building a wall to keep hoards of people from coming over. The problem facing Greece is the ideal example for him to argue in favor of that position.

https://greece.greekreporter.com/202...border-crisis/

I think here we are not doing enough. More should be done to convince the president that Erdogan represents another Iran-type force in the region that will upend and undermine stability throughout. And that Erdogan will cling to power relying on his base, even if he lacks a majority of support.

[Soprano76]

Someone on twitter suggested creating a 50 km buffer zone in Turkish-occupied Eastern Thrace that would be run by EU/UN so that people can have their asylum claims processed there. Greece should seriously suggest that because even though Turkey would never agree, it would make them look poor.