Turkey condemns Greek prime minister's tour of demilitarized Meis Island

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis conducted a three-day inspection tour of Meis Island, the nearest Greek territory to the Turkish coast, where he visited military facilities. Turkey’s defence ministry, represented by Commander Aktürk, protested the visit, stating that the deployment of warships and high-level visits breach the demilitarised status set by the 1947 Paris Peace Agreement. The ministry argued that such moves create a de-facto situation incompatible with international obligations and threaten stability in the Aegean and Mediterranean.

Ankara called on Greece to comply with treaty duties and warned against any actions that could erode Turkey’s regional rights. The statement also referenced the June relocation of the 51st Commando Unit to Söke in Aydın province and condemned the United States’ decision to extend the lifting of the arms embargo on Greek Cyprus, saying it could upset the delicate balance on the island.