Türkiye on Thursday accused Greece’s defence minister of escalating tensions in the Aegean after he outlined plans to deploy precision-guided missiles on Greek islands, a move Ankara said undermines efforts to maintain a stable bilateral climate.
Turkish Defence Ministry officials said Ankara remained committed to turning the Aegean into a “zone of peace and stability” but would not hesitate to counter any threat.
“All developments in our region, including Greece’s military activities, are being closely monitored,” ministry sources told reporters. “Our priority is regional peace and stability. We expect Greece to adopt the same constructive approach.”
The comments followed Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias’ remarks at a conference in Athens, where he said Greece’s new defence doctrine envisions missile deployments on Aegean islands, supported largely by Israeli systems. He described Türkiye as Greece’s main security threat.
Ankara said Dendias’ language was “escalatory, unrealistic and fanciful,” adding that it jeopardised the positive momentum created after President Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis signed the Athens Declaration in 2023, pledging to avoid actions that could trigger new tensions.
“The Turkish Armed Forces pose no threat to anyone who does not threaten us,” the ministry said, adding that Türkiye had the “strength and determination to neutralise any threat directed at our country.”
It said past attempts to target Türkiye had failed “and will continue to fail.”
Dendias, known for hardline rhetoric toward Ankara during his tenure as foreign minister, said Greece would expand its armament programme and position missiles across numerous islands, even at the risk of disputes over international law.
“The Aegean will be protected primarily by mobile missile systems deployed across hundreds – if not thousands – of islands,” he said. “We will seal off the Aegean Sea from land and free our navy from operating in narrow waters.”
Responding later on Thursday, Greek Defence Ministry officials said Greece must maintain its deterrent posture in a volatile regional environment and that its actions should not be viewed as a provocation.
They said Greece faces a declared threat — a reference to Türkiye’s longstanding casus belli over Greek territorial waters — but remains committed to the UN Charter, international law and the Law of the Sea.
Türkiye said it is “closely monitoring” Greek military activity and called on Athens to show “the same constructive stance” in the Aegean.