The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier “Eisenhower” will cross the Suez Canal on Saturday 25/07 and is expected to be in Crete in the next few hours.

This fact becomes highly significant in the midst of the ongoing Turkish challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean. “Eisenhower” is accompanied by 12 US warships and will be crossing the southeastern Mediterranean for about two days.

According to information from Greek media, during its passage south of Crete, there will be joint exercises with the Hellenic Air Force.

Also read: Greece and Cyprus respond to Turkey with a joining NAVTEX

Greek F-16s from Souda airport and F-18s of the American aircraft carrier are expected to take part in the exercise. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carries about 90 fighter jets and helicopters and has a crew of 5,600.

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

Regarding the Turkish movements in the Eastern Mediterranean and the situation that prevails regarding the Turkish fleet and the Hellenic Navy, the information states that everything remains stagnant and unchanged.

The Hellenic Navy is at sea in its entirety, with eight Greek submarines which have instantly reached the indicated positions, acting as “silent hunters” controlling all movements.

The seismographic research vessel ORUC REIS is still in the port of Antalya and it is unknown when it will set sail in the area enclosed by the locations in the Turkish Navtex 0979/20.

The location of the ORUC REIS in the circle. Source: Marinetraffic

At the political-diplomatic level, the war of the foreign ministers is well underway. The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a harsh statement, responding to the statements of the representative of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs who argues, among other things, that Greece should wake up from the Byzantine dream.

“The 21st century’s international community is witnessing with astonishment the rants of religious and nationalist fanaticism in present-day Turkey. They have been condemned and are unworthy of an answer, while they increasingly expose internationally those who utter and incite them,” the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes in a statement.

Earlier, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding the reactions in Greece to the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

In its announcement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry states that Greece, under the pretext of its reaction to the opening of Hagia Sophia for a Muslim prayer, once again reveals its hostility against Islam and Turkey.

Also read: Hagia Sophia | Akathist Hymn in Athens and mournful bell tolling in Cyprus – America

“We strongly condemn hostile statements made by members of the Greek Government and Parliament provoking the public opinion and allowing the burning of our glorious flag in Thessaloniki. The spoiled children of Europe who could not accept the reopening of Hagia Sophia are delirious again. These racist mindsets who have not drawn the required lessons from history, those who disrespect our glorious flag must remember their fate in the Aegean. Greece should, from now on, wake up from the Byzantine dream that she has been unable to wake up for 567 years and get rid of her frustration emanating from it,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry also claims that “Greece is the only country whose oppression against the Muslim Turkish minorities is recorded in the decisions of the ECtHR, which ignores the demolition of historic mosques in its territory, and which does not have a mosque in its capital.”

“No country can teach Turkey about exercising her national sovereignty. Hagia Sophia, which was opened for Muslim prayer with the will of the Turkish nation, like our other cultural heritage, belongs to Turkey and will forever be our property under our protection.”

Also read: Turkish NAVTEX | The Greek Forces are on full alert

“The opening of Hagia Sophia for prayer is in line with the requirements and in the spirit of the 1972 UNESCO Convention on the Preservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage. In accordance with Turkey’s commitment to all religious rights and freedoms, the mosque of “Hagia Sophia, which embraced all religions, will continue to be open to all from now on,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

With information from: ANA MPA, CNA, ProtoThema, Philenews