Greek Foreign Ministry rejects Turkish claim that Aegean defence is a threat
Greece's foreign ministry said Turkey's description of Greek defensive armament on Aegean islands as a threat is unfounded and hypocritical, noting Turkey still holds a casus belli.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs answered Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's remarks labeling Greece's defensive measures on its Aegean islands as an "threat." Ministry spokesperson Panagiotis Giannakoulias said Greece formulates its foreign policy autonomously and that claims of using Greece to destabilise the area are unfounded. He stressed that Greece consistently works for regional and international peace and that its right to self-defence is indisputable under existing treaties.
The ministry rejected Turkey's repeated calls for demilitarisation of the Eastern Aegean islands as having no basis in international law. Giannakoulias added that Turkey's own war threat (casus belli) violates the same legal standards, and urged dialogue based on respect for international law.
Why it matters
The exchange underscores ongoing tensions over sovereignty and security in the Aegean, affecting regional stability.
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