Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis issued a strong warning to Turkey, saying that “the Greece of passive diplomatic stagnation belongs definitively to the past.”
“Any attempt to violate our sovereign rights will be met with every means at our disposal,” he said.
Gerapetritis described the “maritime parks” promoted by Turkey as “illegal and lacking legal validity,” while stressing that Greece is “fully prepared for any scenario,” despite continuing to pursue peace.
Gerapetritis said on Monday in an interview with Greek television channel OPEN TV that Greece is prepared to respond on the ground if Turkey takes steps that, according to Athens, violate its rights, N12 News reported on Monday.
Asked about the possibility of Turkey sending warships to the area, Gerapetritis said Greece does not intend to refrain from responding and has several options available.
'Greece has proven it can send frigates and F-16s'
“It is self-evident that Greece will fully exercise its sovereign rights,” Gerapetritis reportedly said, adding that "We will do whatever is necessary. We will respond to provocations and we will respond from a position of strength."
When asked whether Greece would respond if Turkey sent frigates to the area, Gerapetritis emphasized Greece's ability to deploy its own ships without specifying numbers, N12 reported.
“Greece has proven that it can send frigates and can send F-16s, and from next year onward it will also send F-35s,” he reportedly said.
The Greek foreign minister also pointed to Greece’s ongoing military buildup, citing Rafale fighter jets, upgraded F-16 aircraft, Belharra-class frigates, and F-35 fighter jets expected to join the Greek military in the future.
Greece has already demonstrated its power in Cyprus and during the recent crisis in the Middle East, Gerapetritis said, according to the report.
“Yes, we want peace. But we want it from a position of strength. With security and without fear complexes,” Gerapetritis said.
Addressing Greece’s relationship with Israel, Gerapetritis said cooperation with Jerusalem is not an “overinvestment,” but rather part of a broader, multi-layered foreign policy in which Athens continues to maintain open channels with the Arab world.
Greek officials told N12 that relations between Israel and Greece are “warming up again,” and that security cooperation between the countries is due to expand.
“The war delayed processes, and now, with the end of the war, talks with Greece have resumed with greater intensity,” defense industry sources told N12.
The sources also described the recent air exercise held by the countries over the Mediterranean as a "message to the Turks," the network reported.
"From now on," the sources said to N12, "military cooperation between Israel and Greece will be stronger and more visible.”
Idlib strike could be a model for strikes on Turkish assets, Greek media outlet reports
Meanwhile, Greek media outlet Pro News recently published a report outlining a possible scenario in which a military confrontation between Israel and Turkey could expand into the eastern Mediterranean and potentially involve Cyprus.
According to the report, Israel is allegedly considering a scenario in which it would strike Turkish targets in northern Cyprus if Jerusalem determines that Turkey’s military presence there threatens Israeli interests.
The report cited the Israeli operation against the Abu al-Duhur base in Syria’s Idlib province as a possible model, claiming that eight airstrikes were carried out there amid concerns over Turkish military entrenchment.
According to Pro News, one scenario mentioned in the report includes a strike on Ercan Airport in northern Cyprus and a Turkish naval base near Kyrenia, where warships are expected to be stationed.
However, the report did not provide any official indication that Israel has decided to carry out such an operation.