According to what is being reported by the ANKA news agency, Guler claimed, among other things, that Greece is violating the Berne Protocol in the Aegean Sea, as it is conducting research on Turkey's potential continental shelf in the region.

At the same time, the Turkish Defense Minister referred to the deployment of military assets by the US in Alexandroupolis, emphasizing that this move affects the strategic balance in the region and directly concerns Turkey's security policies.

Yasar Guler's provocative statements
"In the Eastern Mediterranean, due to the maximalist and illegal demands of Greece and the 'Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus', there are a number of disputes over the maritime jurisdiction area. Our country is taking various initiatives both on the ground and at the diplomatic level, in order to protect its rights, interests and concerns in the Eastern Mediterranean. With the agreements on the maritime jurisdiction areas that we signed with the 'TRNC' in 2011 and with Libya in 2019, as well as with our continental shelf that we declared at the United Nations on March 18, 2020, we have shown our resolute stance that we are one of the most important players in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are also showing this decisive stance in the field, preventing unauthorized activities directed towards our continental shelf,” Guler said during the discussion of his ministry’s 2025 budget.

“Recently, this July, the research activity of laying cables by the Italian ship IEVOLI RELUME on our continental shelf was prevented by the deterrent attitude of our elements in the area and in the end the Italian ship was able to carry out its activities after saying “Yes, I accept your area of ​​responsibility. Do you allow me, do I have your permission?” With this, we have shown that no project activity can be carried out in the Eastern Mediterranean without the permission of our country. As you know, the ISPED project (East Med) is a project that has remained on paper. It is one of the most important proofs of the decisive stance of our country.”

“We know which bases the US uses in Greece”

However, Guler did not stop there and continued in the same intense tone, speaking later about the fait accomplis that Greece is attempting and invoked international law, stating that “we know the presence of the US in Greece and which bases they use in Greece.”

“The Ministry of National Defense, as in other issues in the Aegean, works in close coordination with all relevant Ministries and bodies and especially with the President of the Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, respecting our national rights and interests and fulfilling its duties in full. "The fait accompli that Greece is attempting by exploiting the problematic areas in the Aegean, which should be resolved in accordance with international law and the principle of equality between our countries that have priority, are being given the necessary responses by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the field of diplomacy and by the Ministry of National Defense without wasting time," he noted characteristically.

As he stated, "recently, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken the necessary diplomatic initiatives towards the Greek Authorities regarding the research activities that the Greek side attempted to carry out without permission on our potential continental shelf in the Aegean, in violation of the Bern Protocol between the two countries in 1976 and international law, and in the field, the Naval Forces Command and the Coast Guard Command have taken action. The necessary responses have been given."

"On the other hand, we are closely monitoring all developments in our region, including the US military presence in Alexandroupolis, in terms of the defense and security of our country and we are assessing their impact on our country. In this context, we are aware of the US presence in Greece and which bases they use in Greece. The deployment of US military elements in Alexandroupolis affects the strategic balances in the region and directly concerns Turkey's security policies," he concluded.