Greek-Turkish: German press examines the possibility of an armed engagement in the Aegean

A German week in Greece starts in a few days and those with a strong memory will not remember the visits of two senior German government officials to the country in just a few days. The relevant reports are still few, at present only on informative web pages.

In the aftermath of the Greek-Turkish, however, Spiegel magazine in its online edition returns in detail to the Greek Prime Minister’s briefing at the extraordinary Brussels Summit and the four-on-four with Olaf Solz on the latest escalation of verbal attacks and threats by the Turks. .

And the author wonders: “Is there a military confrontation in the Mediterranean? Neither Brussels nor Berlin consider it possible that Turkey and Greece will go to war with each other, they would both have a lot to lose in such a conflict. But that tensions will soon Both countries are on the verge of an election, although elections will officially take place in 2023, but they could be postponed for this year. Nationalist voters on both sides could mobilize by taking a hard line against their sworn enemy. “record levels this summer. War in the Aegean would not be the right advertisement,” comments the columnist.

“Invasion” of rich Russians in Antalya

Antalya is an attractive destination for tourists, but not only. According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, wealthy Russians are buying summer resorts, which is pushing up inflationary pressures. “Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian demand for real estate has skyrocketed,” the German columnist wrote. “For the first time, the Russians are at the top of buyers traditionally monopolized by Iranians and Iraqis. From January to April, 2,687 sales to Russian buyers were completed, more than half of the previous year … Brokers report that rich Russians bring money to insure them, some even come with their families, so Turkey, which wants to maintain good relations with Ukraine and Russia and does not interrupt air travel with Moscow, also offers Turkish citizenship. as an additional incentive, if the investment in real estate exceeds $ 250,000, according to Turkish media reports, however, the limit will be raised to $ 400,000 – inflation does not stop even in the face of citizenship. since they have to calculate fewer dollars and euros for their investments in pounds.

100 days of war for equipment 100 billion euros

It took the German government so many days until yesterday, with an overwhelming majority, the special fund of 100 billion euros for the armed modernization of the German armed forces passed, something unthinkable 100 days ago. Russia’s war of aggression has created a new reality in Europe, said Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock.

The press comments on this reality in all its aspects. “Not only under Chancellor Schroeder but also under Merkel’s German policy was so focused on the peace dividend that the German armed forces went bankrupt,” the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung comments. “In the end came the revealing report of the inspector of the German army with the finding that ‘we ran out of money’. Germany’s rearmament was approved by a large majority. “Putin’s criminal war of extermination makes it difficult for even former pacifists to advocate disarmament.”

The Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung commentator describes the dilemma very vividly. “100 billion euros for ammunition and bombers? So many schools could be renovated with the money, so many dilapidated bridges could be repaired, so much more nursing staff could be better paid. would not agree with them… And yet the decision is the right one, because it is the only appropriate answer to the new reality. The sad but realistic answer to this can only be the use of deterrent power.The € 100 billion is, so to speak, a security contribution to freedom in Europe, without which even modern schools and bridges would be useless.

Irini Anastassopoulou

Source: Deutsche Welle