NATO Extends Aegean Sea Operation Despite Turkey’s Reluctance

The Defence Ministers of NATO have decided that the operation of the alliance in the Aegean Sea should be extended and that a new operation must begin within two weeks in the central part of the Mediterranean, announced at a press conference NATO’s General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg, cited by BTA, after the end of the two-day ministerial meeting in Brussles.

According to him, the operation in the Aegean Sea directed against the cutting off of the illegal transition of migrants to Europe has proven its political and practical use. From a practical point of view, a significant drop in illegal sea crossings has been recorded, while, from a political point of view, the dialogue between Ankara and Athens has been reinforced.

At the same meeting, however, Turkish Defence Minister Fikri I??k requested that the operation be terminated, reported Reuters, cited by BTA.

I??k stated that the drastic drop in the number of refugees trying to reach Greece shows that there is no longer need for military ships to patrol Turkish shores.

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