Greece expects rising tensions with Turkey

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has made statements indicating that tensions in relations with Turkey could escalate. Stating that Athens is no longer in a period of "passive diplomatic stagnation," Gerapetritis said that Greece will respond to any attempt to violate its sovereign rights.

Speaking to OPEN TV, Gerapetritis described the marine parks supported by Turkey as "illegal and lacking legal validity." The Greek minister expressed that they continue to seek peace but that his country is "fully prepared for any scenario."

It is crystal clear that Greece will fully exercise its sovereign rights. We will do whatever is necessary. We will respond to provocations, and we will do so from a position of strength.

Responding to a question regarding the possibility of Turkey sending warships to the region, Gerapetritis said that Athens would not hesitate to respond and that it has various options at its disposal. The minister noted that Greece has previously demonstrated its ability to deploy frigates and F-16s, and that F-35s will also be added to the inventory starting next year.

Gerapetritis also emphasized that Greece is strengthening its military capacity by citing plans for Rafale fighter jets, modernized F-16s, Belharra-class frigates, and F-35s. He summarized Athens' stance with the words, "Yes, we want peace. But we want it from a position of strength."

ATHENS INCREASES DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES

The Athens administration is intensifying its diplomatic contacts against developments it evaluates as Turkey's moves in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. It is reported that Greece is preparing to inform its European partners, allies, and international organizations about Turkey's recent steps, including its marine park declarations.

Gerapetritis is expected to bring Greece's position to the agenda at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting. In a statement on Sunday, the minister said that they have officially brought all of Turkey's "provocative actions" since last week to the attention of European authorities.

According to Greek officials, Ankara is following a strategy that brings back to the fore claims and demands that Athens has long opposed, following a relatively calm period between the two countries. For this reason, Greece is preparing for possible developments, especially regarding the Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection cable works and seabed research.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also said in his speech at the cabinet meeting that reactions from the "east" would not change Greece's plans. Mitsotakis stated that Greece's sovereign areas are indisputable and that they are ready to defend them at any moment.

Mitsotakis stated that they aim for good neighborly relations with Turkey, but that Athens is only open to discussing the delimitation of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.

SIGNAL OF COOLING IN BILATERAL CONTACTS

According to assessments in the Greek press, Athens is working on a series of measures following Turkey's declaration of two marine parks in the northeastern Aegean and near Kastellorizo, which has brought the "gray zones" debate back to the agenda. Greek officials argue that high-level bilateral contacts have been effectively frozen.

In this context, it is reported that the possibility of a meeting between Mitsotakis and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the United Nations General Assembly to be held in New York next month is seen as low. A similar assessment is made for a possible contact between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Athens is also expected to follow a tougher line on EU-Turkey relations topics. It is stated that Greece may oppose progress in processes regarding the modernization of the customs union, visa liberalization, and Turkey's role as an energy hub.

Greek officials also state that extending territorial waters south of Crete to 12 nautical miles is among the options being evaluated. How Turkey will announce the conditions and restrictions regarding activities within the scope of the marine parks and how it will react to the electrical interconnection project in the coming weeks will be closely monitored by Athens.

Gerapetritis argued that there is no step back in foreign policy, stating that Greece holds the initiative. The minister gave the message that "the Greek people should not worry," stating that any possible reaction from Turkey to the electrical cable works would be responded to in "every appropriate way."