“Can Turkey capture a small Greek island?” asks The Economist in an article published last week in its print edition under the headline “The Round and the Gunners.” The article talks about Kastelorizo and not “whether this could become a hot spot” in relations between Greece and Turkey.

“Dozens of pastel-colored houses rise on the shore of the main bay. Locals welcome tourists and sightseers arriving by boat from Turkey. Nearby, a large sea turtle pokes its head out of the turquoise waters. But not all is well. The Greek warship Daniolos patrols the waters around the island. Some military vehicles patrol the port. Some soldiers are getting off the ship that came from Athens,” writes the Economist.

“Kastelorizo ​​has recently found itself at the center of a dispute between Greece, which owns the island, and Turkey. Greece says that Kastelorizo ​​has an EEZ of 200 nautical miles in accordance with the United Nations convention and international maritime law. Turkey says Kastelorizo ​​is too small and too far from mainland Greece to be in the EEZ. Greek argument blocks Turkey’s access to the Mediterranean, Turkey protests.

The Economist also explains: “Turkey disputes Greek sovereignty over Kastelorizo ​​and some other islands. Turkish President Erdogan said last month that Turkish ballistic missiles could hit Athens. “We may suddenly come one night,” he had warned two months earlier, alluding to an invasion. The coasts of Turkey are within reach of Kastelorizo. The nearest Greek island of Rhodes is 120 km away.

“A number of things stand against the armed conflict between Turkey and Greece. One of them is the fact that both are members of NATO. Secondly, this war will destroy the tourism of both. However, the risk also exists because Mr. Erdogan’s government prefers to use violence to achieve its goals, especially in Syria.”

The Economist concludes: “Turkey accuses the Greeks of militarizing the islands in defiance of international conventions. Last year, Turkish media published drone images showing the delivery of military equipment to some of the islands. Greece does not deny sending new soldiers, but says it is only for defense purposes. With elections scheduled for this year in Greece and Turkey, nationalists on both sides will be tempted to flaunt their military might. Local residents of Kastelorizo, like visitors from Turkey, try to plug their ears. “It’s just theater,” says the waiter. NATO leaders should hope he is right.”