- In early 1996, two NATO allies nearly went to struggle over a pair of small Aegean islands.
- A freighter operating aground on one of many islets infected a longstanding dispute between Greece and Turkey.
- The showdown was resolved peacefully, however threats of struggle have been “not a bluff,” a US diplomat mentioned.
In January 1996, Greece and Turkey nearly went to struggle over a territorial dispute within the jap Aegean Sea.
The dispute started over Imia, a pair of uninhabited islets — “little” and “large” Imia — recognized in Turkey as Kardak. The islets are about 1,000 ft aside and have a mixed floor space of about 10 acres. They’re a part of Greece however just a few miles from Turkey’s Bodrum Peninsula.
The showdown arose after a Turkish freighter ran aground on one of many islets. A dispute over the salvage declare shortly escalated into a global incident, with Turkey rejecting Greece’s sovereignty over the islets.
Each international locations moved naval forces towards Imia. Greece landed special-operations forces there, and Turkey adopted go well with shortly after. The opposing forces have been simply a couple of hundred yards aside. The standoff lasted a number of days whereas the 2 international locations, each members of NATO, mobilized for struggle.
Inside politics in each international locations, in addition to longstanding nationalist sentiment, have been seen as driving elements on the time, however the disaster was very actual, and ultimately, US diplomacy and political strain prevented a battle from breaking out.
The Imia disaster
NASA
Following the freighter’s grounding in December 1995, Turkish officers ready to formally problem Greece’s possession of the islets.
Residents of a close-by Greek island raised their nationwide flag on certainly one of Imia’s islets on January 25. On January 28, Turkish journalists arrived on Imia, taking down the Greek flag and elevating their very own.
On the ultimate days of January, Athens despatched a Greek Navy SEAL squad to take down the Turkish flag and stay on Imia to discourage any Turkish motion.
The seven frogmen landed on Little Imia and ready, whereas a second Greek SEAL squad on a missile patrol boat was on standby as a fast response drive. The Greek frogmen on Imia requested that their colleagues land on Large Imia, however Greek political leaders denied their request.
The Turkish aspect was getting ready its personal army response. A Turkish helicopter flew low over Little Imia and noticed the Greek Navy SEALs. The Turkish helicopter then flew over the opposite islet and noticed it was empty.
Initially, Greek army leaders ordered the commandos to shoot down the Turkish helicopter if it got here again because it was flying an operational mission inside Greek territory. The order was rescinded after Greek political leaders intervened.
In the meantime, a Turkish frigate deployed a Turkish Navy SEAL contingent on the empty Large Imia. A tense standoff ensued between the Turks and the Greeks on Little Imia. At one level, Greek leaders gave the inexperienced mild for the Greek SEALs to land on the opposite island, however the order was retracted a couple of hours later.
Reuters
On the night time of January 31, a Hellenic Navy AB 212 helicopter went to reconnoiter Large Imia to see if the Turkish commandos have been nonetheless there. The climate circumstances have been horrible, with rain and winds reaching the extent of a violent storm and making flying nearly not possible.
The Greek helicopter crashed, killing the 2 pilots and the crew chief. An investigation discovered that the helicopter crashed into the water at nearly 100 mph however was inconclusive concerning the trigger. Within the years that adopted, there was hypothesis that it was shot down by Turkish commandos on Large Imia, together with rumors that these Turkish SEALs have been being intentionally killed due to their involvement, however Turkish media reported in 2012 that the commandos have been alive.
US diplomacy was key in stopping a struggle between the 2 NATO allies.
Richard Holbrooke, then US assistant secretary of state for European Affairs, was actively concerned in mediation efforts. On the time of the decision, Holbrooke mentioned threats of struggle have been “not a bluff.”
All through the disaster, Athens and Ankara declined to speak immediately, as a substitute relaying messages to one another by means of Washington. Officers mentioned on the time that the showdown was subtle solely after President Invoice Clinton spoke to the Greek and Turkish leaders.
The White Home and the State Division sought to calm the 2 sides with out showing to take sides within the dispute, which drew ire from Athens, which believed the US place undermined its sovereignty.
Following the disaster, traditionally fraught relations between Greece and Turkey fell to a low level and the scenario within the Aegean remained tense.
A watershed occasion
Ali Balli/Anadolu Company/Getty Photographs
The US has shut relations with each Greece and Turkey and has for many years. Each international locations’ SEALs undergo the US Navy’s Fundamental Underwater Demolition/SEAL coaching and SEAL Qualification Course and each ship their commandos to different US special-operations programs.
The Imia disaster was a watershed occasion for the Greek special-operations neighborhood. The Greek Navy SEALs had been utilized in a defensive function, which conflicted with their coaching and their orientation towards offensive motion. Greek commanders had despatched them as a result of the climate circumstances required extra succesful personnel.
“The Imia disaster was a formative occasion for us,” a retired Greek Navy SEAL instructed Insider. “The entire neighborhood got here collectively and reassessed what labored and what did not work. We needed to put our egos apart and embrace the incident. That was the one manner we may gain advantage from it.”
STRINGER/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
After the Imia disaster, the Greek army created a brand new special-operations unit, the Zeta Amphibious Raider Squadron, which focuses on retaking islands, islets, and reefs — of which Greece has hundreds.
“Now we’re significantly better from it,” the previous Greek SEAL, who requested anonymity for causes of private security, mentioned of the disaster. “The Greek special-operations neighborhood has made strides over the previous 20 years and we’re acknowledged as one of many higher special-operations forces in NATO.”
Lately, the Greek Particular Paratroopers Part — Ειδικό Τμήμα Αλεξιπτωτιστών or ΕΤΑ — acquired NATO’s highest readiness qualification, placing it within the ranks of the UK’s SAS or the US’s SEALs.
Ultimately, American diplomacy succeeded in getting the 2 sides to withdraw and settle for the “establishment ante” wherein every claimed sovereignty over Imia. To today, each nonetheless declare the islets.
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a protection journalist specializing in particular operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (nationwide service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins College graduate.
