Turkey’s air force has canceled its participation in the Ramstein Flag 2024 NATO tactical training exercise, which is hosted at the Andravida military base in southwest Greece, citing what it claims is the Greek side’s “persistence” in adhering to Athens flight information region (FIR) rules.
According to Greek correspondent Manoli Kostidis in Istanbul, Turkish defense sources said NATO allies participating in the exercise dismissed objections by the Turkish side over the FIR demarcation again presented by Greece – in line with FIR delimitation in the Aegean going back many decades.
“After Greece designated the FIR (Flight Information Region) as part of its jurisdiction in the exercise planning document it drafted and requested a flight plan, the necessary actions were taken. Although NATO authorities showed a positive approach, due to Greece’s persistent stance, our country [Turkey] did not participate in this exercise,” Turkish sources noted.
Official Turkey has for many years disputed the Athens FIR jurisdiction over half the Aegean, essentially operating military aircraft in international airspace without first submitting a flight plan, and thus infringing on FIR rules. Such instances have often caused Greek fighter planes to scramble to identify the aircraft in the Athens FIR operating without a submitted flight plan.
The Ramstein Flag is an Allied air command-sponsored tactical level LIVEX aiming to provide participating member-states and other allied countries with high-end training opportunities that include realistic situations in a complex operational environment.
It is the first time the exercise is taking place outside Germany and the major Ramstein Air Base, which is located near the town of Ramstein-Miesenbach town in the district of Kaiserslautern in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Thirteen NATO allies are taking part in the Ramstein Flag 2024 training exercise in Greece.
