The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has warned that he will let hundreds of thousands of migrants travel on to Europe if pushed by the European Union (EU).
This comes as a reaction to a non-binding vote by the European Parliament to freeze talks on EU membership for the country.
The Members of European Parliament (MEPs) were alarmed by Mr Erdogan’s “disproportionate” response to a failed coup attempt in July.
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The migrant numbers reaching the Greek islands have dropped since an EU-Turkey deal in March to curb the influx.
President Erdogan accused the EU of breaking its promises. As part of the March deal, Turkey was promised aid, visa-free travel for its nationals and accelerated membership talks.
“Listen to me: these border gates will be opened if you go any further,” he warned the EU on Friday.
Ulrike Demmer, a spokeswoman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said the deal was in the “interest of all parties” and that “threats on either side are not helpful”.
