Crisis at the İpsala border gate: 'Deliberate' slowdown for Turkish vehicles from Greece

Following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's reaction to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's attempts to block the sale of F-35s to Turkey, a tense development has occurred at the border gates. It is alleged that Greek customs officers at the İpsala Border Gate are intentionally slowing down procedures and conducting thorough searches of Turkish-plated vehicles. Due to the crisis in the region, long queues of hundreds of vehicles have formed on the Turkish side.

Drivers arriving at the border gate to enter Turkey from Greece stated that operations at Greek customs have come to a complete standstill. The drivers emphasized that Greek officials are conducting unusual and excessively detailed searches of Turkish vehicles, expressing their belief that the practice is entirely deliberate and a political reflex.

Activist Taner Saraç, who examined the congestion at the border and the grievances of the drivers on-site, recorded the moments and described the situation. Saraç stated that hundreds of vehicles have been kept waiting for hours without any justification provided, and that Greek authorities are displaying an attitude that sabotages the process.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE CRISIS

It is noteworthy that this slowdown action at the border came immediately after President Erdoğan's remarks directed at Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis at the NATO Summit.

Erdoğan had reacted to the lobbying efforts of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis to prevent the sale of F-35s to Turkey, stating the following:

"Neither statement has a place in my world. Because it is clear what waters Netanyahu is swimming in. Mr. Mitsotakis should not have fallen into such a mistake. Because have we ever expressed an opinion to date regarding the defense equipment Mr. Mitsotakis has purchased for Greece, asking 'why did you buy these?' or 'why are you buying these?' No. Yet, he is our next-door neighbor. We could have had the opportunity to say such things. But there is no need. He can buy them, he can sell them."

Footage and narration: Taner Saraç