Harassment of a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol boat by Turkish coast guard boat – VIDEO

Defence Redefined

Published on 02/04/2021 at 14:27

On the occasion of the multiple incidents of illegal immigrants to Greece supported by the Turkish Coast Guard, the Minister of Immigration and Asylum Notis Mitarakis made the following statement: “This morning, the Hellenic Coast Guard mentioned several incidents, according to which the Turkish Coast Guard and the Turkish Navy accompanied immigrant boats on the borders of Europe, in an attempt to escalate tensions with Greece.”

According to the announcement of the Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters, in the early morning hours today, a boat with foreign passengers tried to enter Greek territorial waters accompanied by a Turkish coast guard boat, which was detected by the Hellenic Coast Guard Open Sea Patrol Ship.

Also read: Another two state-of-the-art high-speed patrol boats join the Hellenic Coast Guard

There were repeated communication attempts between the aforementioned ship and the Turkish patrol boat, so as to collect the occupants of the boat, however all attempts were fruitless. The boat with the foreigners did not enter Greek territorial waters and its passengers were finally collected by another Turkish coast guard boat, while the former had already left the said sea area.

Also, in the early morning hours today, in the same sea area and in Turkish territorial waters near the border line, another Open Sea Ship of the Hellenic Coast Guard detected a boat with a sufficient number of foreign passengers. The above boat was approached by two Turkish coast guard boats, which tried to push it into Greek territorial waters, unsuccessfully.

Eventually, the boat’s passengers were picked up by the Turkish coast guard boats, following repeated harassment by the crew of the Open Sea Ship. It is noted that in this case, too, the boat with the foreigners did not enter Greek territorial waters.

Source: ANA MPA

Also read: Two state-of-the-art new patrol boats join the Hellenic Coast Guard – Photos & VIDEO