Turkish gangsters are targeting Greece: arrests in Bulgaria!

Turkish gangsters are targeting Greece: arrests in Bulgaria!

Swilengrad, Bulgarien - A explosive situation between Greece and Turkey recently worsened. Two alleged members of Turkish criminal criminals fled to Bulgaria, where on Tuesday they were arrested by the Bulgarian police in Swilengrad near the Turkish border. This arrest was carried out on the basis of a tip from the Greek executive. The suspects are suspected of being involved in murders, blackmails and drug trafficking, which honestly fueled the tensions in the region. The Greek intelligence service and the police have already initiated an intensive search in Thrakia, which extends over Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey to prevent further criminal acts from these Turkish gangs. According to Exxpress.at, it could be that the Turkish gangsters held members of the Greek secret service for members of a rival gang.

Greece and Turkey have a long -lasting, complex relationship that is characterized by diverse conflicts. The bilateral disputes with regard to migration, sovereign rights and the presence of natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean are particularly problematic. These geopolitical tensions intensify with the increased military presence of Türkiye in the region. The Greek Prime Minister of Kyriako Mitsotakis even accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to question the sovereignty of Greece over Aegean Islands. Erdoğan Himelf has threatened an invasion on Greek islands, which indicates a dramatic escalation of the situation.

historical tensions and current conflicts

The Greek-Turkish relationships have a rich, albeit conflict-rich history that goes back to ancient times. Greek presence in Asia Minor has existed since the Bronze Age, and according to the fall of the Byzantine Empire, Greece fell under the Ottoman rule. Official diplomatic relationships only began after Greek independence in the early 19th century. This long history is characterized by crucial conflicts, such as the Turkish-Greek war and the Balkanizen, which strain the relationships sustainably. Since the division of Cyprus in 1974, this conflict, which led to a split country, has been a constant dispute between the two nations.

Especially after the natural gas finds in the eastern Mediterranean from 2020, the tensions have thrown themselves back. This could also play a role in the current situation. Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and denies its right to define sea limits. Increased military activities, such as the posting of Turkish warships to interrupt exploration of international companies in the area claimed for Cyprus, reinforce the antagonistic relationship between the two countries. These conflicts became even more complicated by the migrant crisis, which also burdened Greece borders due to political unrest in Syria.

A look into the future

The public debates about Greek-Turkish relationships are less pronounced in Turkey than in Greece, and yet the situation is influenced by the geopolitical developments in the region. Greece has established itself as a credible partner for the USA, while relationships between these and Turkey have become increasingly problematic. The latter could affect Greek-Turkish relationships in the long term.

The willingness of non -violent solutions seems to grow in both countries, which is proven by the earthquake aid in 2023 and the subsequent relaxation with the mutual promotion of support for international candidacies. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop, especially in view of the aggressive military doctrine and the domestic changes in Turkey, which have recently burdened the relationship between the two neighbors.