Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday called on Greece to abandon its policy of militarizing islands in the Aegean Sea, threatening retaliation.

"Once again I call on Greece to give up its militarization of islands [in the Aegean Sea] and to abide by international agreements. I am not joking, I am speaking quite seriously," the Turkish leader said during the "Ephesus 2022" drills.

"We met the provocations of Greece with cold blood. However, this patience of ours is misunderstood by our interlocutor. Make up your mind to Greece. Turkey will not hesitate to protect its rights when necessary," Erdogan said. He did not specify what kind of protection measures may be in question.

Turkey and Greece, a NATO member, have repeatedly found themselves on the brink of a military conflict over the status of disputed islands in the Aegean Sea, the boundaries of territorial waters and airspace.

On 31 May, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused Greece of violating the demilitarization status of islands in the Aegean Sea. According to him, Greece violated the islands' status and they should be demilitarized. Otherwise the issue of their belonging will be raised, he said.