3 November 2026
There is considerable concern in Turkey over Greece’s cooperation with the United States and Israel. “Greece is purchasing weapons systems directed against Turkey,” is a characteristic comment.
This concern is reflected in a report broadcast by the Turkish television network A Haber.
“First, they sat down at the negotiating table with Israel,” the Turkish reporter notes.
“The total cost of the air defence system amounts to at least 3 billion euros, and it is expected to become operational in approximately 35 months,” Nikos Dendias stressed.
“Then, they reached an agreement with the United States.”
“We are proud to announce a new Memorandum of Cooperation establishing a joint security programme,” Marco Rubio stated.
“Let us wish them well with their new acquisitions. But why is our neighbour purchasing these weapons systems? At a time when the entire world is turning its back on Israel because of the genocide in Gaza, Athens is further strengthening its relations with Israel.”
“The reason is clear: the tensions it is facing with Turkey in the Aegean Sea. The extension of our territorial waters to 12 nautical miles is a non-negotiable position of ours. Ankara does not wish to see tensions escalate and has repeatedly appealed for restraint in this direction.”
The Turkish television network’s report also added that the “close relationship with Netanyahu is a burden. The guarantees provided by Washington are also questionable. We saw this in the Persian Gulf.”
“Furthermore, Greece is making itself dependent on the priorities of others. What Greece must remember is clear: neighbourhood is permanent, whereas governments in Israel and Washington are temporary.”
“We Cannot Overlook Crete and Rhodes – Tensions After 20 November”
Meanwhile, the former Turkish ambassador Selim Kuneralp acknowledges, at least in part, the Greek positions, a view that is expected to cause displeasure in Ankara.
As Kuneralp characteristically points out, “There is no alternative to resolving the issue peacefully through compromise. Unfortunately, it is by no means easy to reach a solution that takes the interests of all sides into account. I fear that a formula which does not recognize territorial waters extending beyond six nautical miles around islands such as Crete, Rhodes and even Cyprus – on which our position is largely based – has no chance whatsoever of being recognized by other countries. Our recourse will be the principle of equity. However, the principle of equity itself will not allow Crete to be overlooked, given that it is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, with regard to maritime zones.”
“If the issue is referred to arbitration, there is no reason to believe that the outcome will be very different,” Kuneralp adds.
“Libya lodged a protest before the United Nations, arguing that they are violating the areas over which it claims rights, but so far there has been no reaction whatsoever from our country. Perhaps the government is waiting for the COP 31 Summit (9–20 November in Antalya) to be over before ‘turning up the heat’ (increasing tensions) in the waters,” the experienced former diplomat estimates.
Source: skai.gr
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