10/1/2021
Russian fighter jets hit a convoy of oil tankers to Turkey [video]
DAMASCUS, (BM) – Russia’s Aviapro news agency reported yesterday, January 9, 2021, that Russian aerospace forces had carried out airstrikes and destroyed a convoy of oil tankers destined for Turkey. According to the agency, the strike was inflicted by a fighter jet. Another Russian agency, INAED, claims the strike was carried out by unmanned aerial vehicles.
The oil was traveling from Syria to Turkey. According to the Sentry Syria resource, Russian intelligence has received information about the planned transfer. Sources in Sentry Syria claim that Russian fighters’ activity in the air that night was high, more than usual.
1η Ιανουαρίου 2021
Το «δόρυ» του ΝΑΤΟ θα είναι η Τουρκία.
Η Άγκυρα αναλαμβάνει το ετήσιο καθήκον ως μέλος
NATO ‘spear’ is Turkey. Ankara takes over the annual duty as a member
WARSAW, ANKARA, (BM) – NATO ‘spear’ is Turkey. From January 1, 2021, the Turkish armed forces will take over from Poland an annual duty as a framework state in the land component of the so-called NATO spearheads, i.e., VJTF [Very High Readiness Joint Task Force], learned BulgarianMilitary.com citing Defence24.
The Turks will be the backbone of the forces with high readiness to react in a crisis, delegating to these tasks, primarily the 66th Mechanized Infantry Brigade’s resources. The Turkish unit will replace the Polish 21st Podhale Rifle Brigade in this role.
The NATO communiqué indicates that starting in 2021, Turkey will take over command of the NATO spear from Poland, which provided the backbone of forces in 2020. Ankara will build the Turkish component of the VJTF around the 66th Mechanized Infantry Brigade. That’s about 4,200 Turkish troops, and NATO’s VJTF total has about 6,400 militaries.
Greek Rafale is getting closer – the
agreement is expected before Christmas
ATHENS, (BM) – According to the Greek media, the contract for 18 Dassault Rafale fighters’ supply is to be signed before the upcoming holidays, learned BulgarianMilitary.com citing Defence24. First, the agreement is to be approved by the Greek parliament, and later it will be signed by representatives of the defense ministries of Greece and France.
Read more: Top 5 best fighter jets by the number of air victories in the World
The next step in purchasing French Dassault Rafale fighters is the Greek parliament’s approval of the contract. The approval is likely to happen at the meeting on December 17, 2020. Once approved, the only thing left to do is sign a contract with French representatives. According to the media, the visit of French Defense Minister Florence Parly, planned for 19-20 December, is the occasion.
Under the contract, Greece plans to acquire 18 Dassault Rafale fighters. Six of them are to be new in the Rafale C F3-R version, i.e., single-seat machines of the latest available variant. Another 12 donated would be aircraft currently used by the French Air Force and probably belonging to a slightly older standard [F1 or F2]. Under the contract, Greece also plans to acquire weapons, including Meteor, SCALP, and Exocet missiles. The total value of the contract is 2.5 billion euros.
https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2020/12/13/greek-rafale-is-getting-closer-the-agreement-is-expected-before-christmas/
Greece, India to co-operate in defense to
oppose Turkish-Pakistani axis
ATHENS, NEW DELHI, (BM) – Greece continues to seek its partners around the world to help strengthen its defense on the one hand and to successfully oppose Turkey on the other. Last Thursday [October 29 – ed.], The Greek Foreign Minister held an in-depth and constructive conversation-analysis with his Indian counterpart on this topic, learned BulgarianMilitary.com citing various Greek sources.
Read more: Greece and Turkey canceled their own military maneuvers in the Aegean Sea
The situation in the Mediterranean and the commitments made by Greece to resolve the Ankara issue in the dispute over the borders of the continental shelf and gas fields in the region were also discussed. Naturally, maritime international law was in the forefront, which was strongly supported by the Indian Foreign Minister, thus giving his support and protection of Greek interests.
The problem will continue to exist, especially as Turkey opens new fronts around itself, including those in Libya, Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh. The Turkish side has the support of its Pakistani political and military counterparts, which worries the Greeks. That is why future military cooperation between Greece and India is gaining more and more meaning, especially given the fact that Greece will have one of the fastest growing major nations in the military industry. Another fact that will unite the two peoples is the nationalist vision and policy of Turkish President Erdogan, which in one way or another reaches the borders of India, and this worries New Delhi.
https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2020/10/31/greece-india-to-co-operate-in-defense-to-oppose-turkish-pakistani-axis/
Greece and Turkey canceled their own military maneuvers in the Aegean Sea
ATHESM ANKARA, (BM) – Both Greece and Turkey canceled sea maneuvers planned for the end of October, learned BulgarianMilitary.com according some Turkish sources and citing Defence24. Both were to take place in the Aegean Sea, where there are disputes over sea areas around the Greek islands.
Read more: Greece-France: military equipment and support against Turkey are on the table
The Turkish maneuvers were to start on October 28, i.e. Wednesday, and the Greek ones were to start just one day later. Taking into account the incidents so far, including the ramming of the Turkish frigate “Kemal Reis” by the Greek frigate “Lemnos” in August this year, such a meeting in the Aegean Sea could have unpredictable consequences.
The first to show goodwill was Turkey, which canceled its Navtex maneuvers on Monday in order, according to Turkish sources, “to show Turkey’s willingness to solve problems in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean through dialogue.”
The Turkish exercises were aimed at practicing communication at sea. The Greeks, in response to them, decided on October 8 to make their own – combined with shooting. While any move to de-escalate, especially in today’s international context, should be welcomed, what we are actually dealing with is a Turkish withdrawal from their plans.
What is the reason – the mediation of the European Union and the United States, or the burnout of the possibilities of the Turkish state that is militarily engaged in many theaters – is difficult to assess at the moment. Last week, however, there was a withdrawal of Turkish troops from the Syrian province in Syria. At the same time, decisive bombings and movements of Syrian and Russian forces began there. Recently, a truce has also been achieved in Libya. On the other hand, the Azerbaijani-Armenian struggles, in which Turkey is considered a country engaged on the Azerbaijani side, have not stopped, which puts it in the way of Russian interests.
Σεπτεμβριος 2020
Erdogan seeks the Aegean as a ‘reward’ from the West – Is the end of NATO coming?
ATHENS, (BM) – What is the hidden plan of the Turkish president with everything he has been doing for months in Greek region? There is a lot of information now that Erdogan after the failed coup of 2016 holds the US responsible and is moving at full speed to withdraw from the alliance moving in an autonomous course.
This issue was also covered by the big American newspaper, the WSJ, which is published under the headline “Erdogan really threatens a NATO ally in the Mediterranean”, referring to Erdogan’s provocative statements against France and Greece, learned BulgarianMilitary.com citing Pentapostagma.
For this relationship, Ankara is said to be asking for some kind of reward, blackmailing and intimidating another allied country such as Greece in this way, demanding the tolerance of the United States.
Netanyahu published a new tweet on Thursday, in which he clarified that he had received the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias.
The Israeli premier said that his country is standing by Athens, in light of the crisis between Turkey and Greece in the eastern Mediterranean.
Kremlin’s ‘silence’ is deafening
The Russian media make extensive reference to the Greek-Turkish crisis. At the same time, however, the Kremlin’s “silence” is deafening. That was reported earlier at the Greek newspaper Pentapostagma on August 14.
Read more: Turkey deploys a dozen of tanks along the border with Greece near Evros
The Kremlin has reportedly said it is in no hurry to take an official position on the issue, as it is an intra-Native affair and no Russian intervention has been requested from either country.
Of course, this crisis benefits Russia. There is also “silence” from NATO-US, which so far have not taken a stand against the Turkish provocations.