Turkey Blasts Greek Drone Base on Rhodes, Citing Demilitarized Status Violation

Turkey has sharply condemned Greece plans to build a permanent Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) base on the island of Rhodes, labeling the move a clear violation of the island's internationally agreed-upon demilitarized status. Ankara's Ministry of Defense warned on Thursday that establishing such a facility would 'harm peace and stability in the Aegean' and damage good-neighborly relations, reigniting a long-standing and sensitive territorial dispute between the two NATO allies. At the heart of this fresh confrontation is Greece intention to deploy V-BAT unmanned aircraft at Maritsa Airport on Rhodes, aiming to boost its surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in the strategically vital southeastern Aegean. Greece firmly asserts its sovereign right to strengthen its defense infrastructure, viewing these measures as essential for national security, while Turkey insists that the demilitarized status of islands like Rhodes is legally binding under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty. This clash over military presence reflects deeper disagreements concerning maritime zones, territorial waters, and airspace that have historically strained Greek-Turkish relations. The development of this UAV base is set to intensify an already delicate diplomatic landscape. While Turkey recently welcomed Greece relocation of Patriot air defense systems from Karpathos to Crete as a 'positive step' towards respecting demilitarization, the Rhodes drone base introduces a new point of contention. Observers will be closely watching how both nations navigate this latest challenge, as Greece moves forward with its defense modernization plans and Turkey vows to 'resolutely protect its rights and interests' under international law, keeping regional stability on edge.