Turkish crowds and Greek mobilization ... Turkish parade or going to war?

Turkey transferred dozens of tanks from its border with Syria south to the northwestern border with Greece, according to Turkish media.

The move comes within the framework of the increasing tension between the two neighboring countries, the two members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), especially with regard to the demarcation of maritime borders and the sharing of energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish media said that Ankara diverted at least 40 tanks from the border with Syria to the border with Greece, and published photos and videos of giant vehicles carrying military vehicles towards the Edirne region, in the far northwest of Turkey.

The convoy left the Turkish-Syrian border on Saturday afternoon, and is likely to be transported by train from the port of Iskenderun, near the Syrian border, to Edirne.

In the midst of the increasing tension between Ankara and Athens, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Saturday, issued a new threat to Greece due to the eastern Mediterranean crisis, on the eve of his forces' start of military maneuvers in the region.

The dispute between Turkey and Greece has been heating up over gas and oil wealth in the resource-rich region, since Turkey deployed an exploration vessel last month to the region.

In parallel, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that its forces would conduct military exercises off Cyprus from Sunday.

The ministry said in a statement that the exercises, dubbed "Mediterranean Storm", will continue until Thursday and will be conducted with the participation of elements from Turkish-administered Northern Cyprus.

In its turn, Greece put its forces on alert in the region.

Despite the intense Turkish moves in the eastern Mediterranean region and its threats that it is ready for all scenarios, it is unlikely that Ankara will be involved in an open confrontation with Greece, which enjoys great European support.

According to observers, the Turkish moves are aimed at blackmail and showing that this is being used internally by Erdogan.

A German newspaper revealed two days ago that Turkish President Recep Erdogan had requested to fabricate a military accident with Greece, to invest it in Turkish income, but he was surprised by the refusal of this by the Turkish army generals.

T/S

ANHA