Turkey - Military Coup

[MarkJ]

Happening now.
News is updating fast but only for Istanbul and Ankora.
I dont know if the cruising areas are affected, or if they have knowledge of it.

*Military says it has seized the country entirely*


If you have friends cruising there it would be good to contact them and ensure they have an exit strategy, fuel and ready to sail.

Even if resolved tonight people get very edgy and it can take a few days to quieten down.

[MarkJ]

If you are trying to contact cruiser friends in Turkey Facebook, Youtube etc has been closed.

All airports closed. All aircraft in the sky now are to divert to other countries (hiw do they do that??)

[Lake-Effect]

BBC Live Feed
Turkish army 'takes over power' - BBC News

[MarkJ]

Erdogan telling people to get out on the streets and protest.

I would seriously suggest slipping the lines tonight and heading to Greece.

Clearing out is not possible as all travel banned.

Sent from a stupid phone that replaces words with weird stuff.

[transmitterdan]

Erdogan is supposedly in Marmaris or Bodrum.

Difficult to know what to do if moored in that area.

[MarkJ]

If moored there get the hell out and head to Rhodos. No one checks paperwork anyway. Return tomorrow if everything is resolved.
Crazy to stay there if civilian protesters get the idea the West is behind the coup.

1 Army Group is against the coup and may battle it so it could be civil war.
Helicopter gunships attacked the sat tv station, air force attacking Intelligence HQ.

It is serious.

But civilian protesters have taken over 2 small tanks...

[Sea Dreaming]

Thanks for the posts Mark. I will be interested to hear the latest updates.

[transmitterdan]

US government is saying they support the elected government of Turkey.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

US government is saying they support the elected government of Turkey.

We all make mistakes.

b.

[MarkJ]

The coup looks like it has failed now that info is in from Ankara. But any outlying pockets could be difficult because Erdogan has said they will be (euphemism for) shot.

So it may be a few days of heightened instability.

(Politically speaking this is a huge setback for anti-islamacists in Turkey and the West. I find it startling Trump has made no tweet at all but has let Obama and Hillary back Erdogan. Extraordinary. Platform by silence. Extraordinary)

Its the end of Ataturkism. Totally and utterly. Tomorrow is a new era for Turkey. Pity the Turks and the world.

[CarinaPDX]

Yes, it is very sad. This will further weaken secular interests and increase the Islamic hold on the government.

Normally I agree with the old saying: "When in danger, when in doubt, hoist the anchor and bugger on out!" In this case that would have been unwise. Particularly with it known that Erdogan was in the southern area, anything that might look like it could be an attempt to smuggle him out of the country could be greeted violently. Even without that the Turkish military is no-nonsense, and with the extra tension of a coup, disobedience of a military order could get very ugly results. Tourists were never targets, so don't make yourself one.

Greg

[Palarran]

I'm guessing that every marina in Greece is going to be jam packed this winter. This couldn't have been a worse time for Turkey as their tourist business is down about 50% already. Now it likely won't survive.

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

We all make mistakes.

b.

^ sad but true

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I find it startling Trump has made no tweet at all but has let Obama and Hillary back Erdogan. Extraordinary. Platform by silence. Extraordinary

140 character limit for nuance?

Hardly.

[hoppy]

I'm on my way to Turkey to meet a ship in early September and then fly out via Istanbul

I guess I will have to wait for the dust to settle to see if I must change my plans.

Even if things settle down enough to meet the ship, I'm starting to wonder if I'm better off changing my flight to be out of Athens and take a ferry to Rhodes