Greece's Debt Crisis Has Crippled Its Military

Several reports have surfaced of Turkish frigates entering Greek territorial waters Murad Sezer/Reuters

Elisabeth Braw, Newsweek: Lack of Fuel Leaves Greek Military Helpless in Face of Turkish Aggression

Greece can no longer defend itself against Turkish military aggression because its financial woes are crippling its armed forces.

Speaking exclusively to Newsweek, Prof Costas Koliopoulos, a military expert at Panteion University in Athens says: “Turkey is the reason we have very large armed forces. And now Turkey is sensing a shift in the balance of power. Their increased activities in the Aegean are an attempt to wear us out.”

Relations between Turkey and Greece have been tense for decades, thanks to the division of Cyprus and the ongoing dispute over the sovereignty of the Aegean Sea area, which separates the two countries. Every year, Greece reports hundreds of incursions by Turkey’s navy and airforce into its territory, arguing that they are forced to scramble jets or send out naval ships to intercept them.

WNU Editor: Greece is saying that they are broke .... but they have enough money to start negotiations to buy a Russian anti-aircraft missile system ..... Greece in talks with Russia to buy missiles for S-300 systems: RIA (Reuters). Something does not add up.