German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he would offer Greece his support against Turkish threats made in a dispute over Turkish claims to Greek islands in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

“It is unacceptable for one NATO member to question the sovereignty of another,” Mr Scholz said before a meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens. “That applies to more or less veiled military threats.”

Turkey is challenging Greek sovereignty over numerous inhabited and uninhabited islands in the eastern Mediterranean, leading to extremely tense relations between the rival nations, who are also both NATO treaty allies.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly threatened Greece in recent weeks, saying, “We could suddenly come one night.”

Mr Scholz called for both countries to resolve the conflict through dialogue.

“Good, neighbourly relations between Greece and Turkey, are not only important for both countries but for Europe as a whole. The German government is committed to ensuring that open questions between the two countries are resolved in dialogue and on the basis of international law,” Mr Scholz added.

The German chancellor offered for Germany to serve as a mediator in the dispute.

Mr Scholz said, “Our common goal, our vision, should be to fully realise the economic potential of the eastern Mediterranean region for the benefit of all countries. If the countries involved would view it as useful, Germany could get involved.” 

(dpa/NAN)