Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said that Turkey’s actions, including disputes over Greece’s sovereignty and harassment in Greek waters and airspace, hinder the prospects of improved relations.
He discussed the ongoing tensions between Greece and Turkey in an interview with Ekathimerini. He noted that the current calm is a positive development.
Dendias highlighted the Turkish-Libyan memorandum as a significant point of contention. He stated that for true progress, Turkey must adhere to international law and the Law of the Sea. He also stressed the need for renewed talks on the Cyprus issue, where Turkey has been uncooperative.
Dendias praised President Erdogan’s impact on Turkey but urged him to resolve the differences between the two nations. Without such efforts, he warned that nationalist influences in Turkey would continue to cause friction.
Focusing on European defence, Dendias underscored Greece’s strategic priorities. Greece supports strengthening European defence mechanisms and has taken a central role in initiatives like Operation Irini, which enforces the UN arms embargo in Libya, and Operation Aspides, protecting shipping in the Red Sea.
In 2022, Turkey’s former Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ankara, along with the Tripoli-based government in Libya, were together protesting against seismic surveys and drilling that Greece was due to carry out, south of Crete, according to Greece’s Ekathimerini newspaper.
The Libyan Foreign Ministry at the time denounced Greece’s “irresponsible acts” in the Mediterranean. The Libyan Foreign Ministry claimed that Athens had contracted with some international companies to conduct gas and oil exploration in the disputed Libyan-Greek maritime borders, specifically to the south and southwest of Crete.
The Foreign Ministry stated that “it will continue to defend Libya’s maritime borders, with all possible legal and diplomatic means.”
“Greece is working hard to exploit the Libyan crisis and impose a fait accompli in defining the Libyan-Greek maritime borders,” the statement said.
Tensions rose after Libya and Turkey signed a series of economic agreements, that included potential energy exploration in maritime areas.
