Together with other islets in the surrounding region, Ro was the object of a sovereignty dispute in the 1920s between Turkey and Italy, which at the time was in possession of Kastellorizo and the Dodecanese islands.

[5] The three towers of Kastellorizo, Ro and Strongyli comprise the main links in a dense network of watchtowers constructed by the citizens of Rhodes during the Hellenistic period, to control the sea routes and the coast.

[6] Ro has been uninhabited for most of its modern history, except for the one Greek woman, with her husband and her mother, who made it famous, Despina Achladioti.

[7] A Greek border outpost is based on the island, with the primary duty of continuing the tradition of raising the flag.

[8] On April 10, 2018, Greek soldiers fired warning shots at a Turkish helicopter approaching the island.