Aegean Army

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Turkey has an Aegean Army. The Turkish Aegean army, sometimes called the Fourth Army, was organised in the 1970s allegedly to counter Greek threats in the Aegean Sea. Its headquarters are at Izmir. It covers the entire west coast of the Anatolia peninsula.

Its officially stated mission is to protect the Turkish mainland from the perceived threat posed by Greece's armament of the Aegean Sea islands. The credibility of this allegation is poor, however. From a military standpoint, it is the Greek islands that are threatened by the Turkish Aegean army. That is because of their proximity to the Turkish coast and distance from the Greek mainland, as well as their multitude, which makes it hard to defend every single island.

Additionally, the Turkish Aegean army includes a large amphibious force, commando and paratroop forces, which illustrate its aggressive, rather than defensive, nature.

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