Aegean: The islands – “lobsters” and Ankara’s complaint – The shielding of the Archipelago is an answer to every escalation

In recent years, ASDEN has studied new scenarios and redesigned the defense of the islands of the Archipelago against new threats, hybrid as well as conventional, adapting training and exercises to them.

The spy images of the movements of the Greek Fleet and of the Greek Armed Forces in general, which are shown by the Turkish state agency Anadolu, are without a doubt another escalation move on the part of the neighbors.

Essentially, Ankara officially admits that it is spying on Greek territory, Greek Territorial Waters, ship and troop movements. And it “baptizes” as a challenge the legal right of Greece to self-defense at a time when it itself not only has the Casus Belli open, but is now openly questioning Greek Sovereignty over the Aegean islands. He threatens that “night will come” while displaying maps with the islands of the Archipelago painted “red”.

At the same time, it reveals one of the main purposes served by the continuous flights of Turkish unmanned UAVs in the Aegean and also the overflights over the Greek islands. Which in September alone have reached 24. Ankara’s Bayraktar and Anka beyond challenging the Greek Sovereign Rights in FIRAthina have turned their cameras on the movements of the Greek Armed Forces, on the garrisons of the islands, on the positions of the ships of the Fleet, on radars, infrastructures and facilities. Every day they “map” the Archipelago and transfer the image to the Turkish Staff.

And this image seems to have caused irritation to the Turkish Staff. The disembarkation from the tankers of the M-1117 Fleet in Lesvos, Samos and Chios (let the Turkish Staff be informed that armored vehicles were also transported there). The first of a total of 1200 granted by the US and already strengthening both the islands and the defense of Evros. But it is not only the operational deployment in Evros and islands of M-1117 Guardian armored vehicles that disturbs the neighbors. They are generally bothered by the fact that in recent years the Akriti islands, both the largest (Rhodes, Kos, Chios, Samos, Lesvos), and the smallest have been turned into fortresses. Both in armament-equipment and in human resources. From fighter materials such as helmets and accessories, radios, thermal type night binoculars to the construction of modern new technology observatories. New floating vehicles for Amphibious commandos, Sniper rifles and drones.

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However, the neighbors are also irritated by the continuous readiness and immediate reaction exercises of the Aegean guards. From the live-fire exercises in the unspoiled Kastelorizo ​​to Lemnos and Samothrace. Shots in approved fields but even at sea in high caution areas. In all the islands of the Archipelago, flexible, fast-moving, immediate reaction units have been organized in order to immediately deal with any hostile action. With preparations reminiscent of the readiness of the Air Force and predicting a rapid reaction within a few minutes. The heaviest weapon systems such as tanks and artillery are also in similar operational readiness and availability.

But the protection of the Archipelago is not limited to the islands of the Eastern Aegean but now also includes Crete. Indicative is the upgrade of the 5th Airborne Brigade which now has four powerful Battalions ready to help in every corner of the Aegean and wherever else it is required.

In recent years, ASDEN has studied new scenarios and redesigned the defense of the islands of the Archipelago against new threats, hybrid as well as conventional, adapting training and exercises to them. The very important work of the former ASDEN Chief and current General Inspector of the Army commando Lt. General Nikolaos Flaris, who left the “lobster” islands, is continued with similar success by the new ASDEN Commander Lt. Gen. Dimitrios Houpis. All of this naturally causes irritation to the neighbors who would like the Aegean islands to be easy “prey” in their aggressive, revisionist plans.

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