Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

Greek PM doubts possibility of armed conflict with Turkey

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Jan 2023 16:53
3 Min Read

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says his country is ready to negotiate and find a solution to their disagreement with Turkey.

  • x
  • Mitsotakis is in Istanbul to talk with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a rare meeting in March 13, 2022, between the neighbors who have been at odds over maritime and energy issues, the status of Aegean islands and migration.
    In a rare meeting, Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul in March 13, 2022, as the neighbors have been at odds over maritime and energy issues, the status of Aegean islands and migration. (AP)

The Greece-Turkey relations will not see a "worst-case scenario" of armed conflict, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told a news conference on Saturday following controversial statements made by the Turkish leadership.    

"No, I do not believe that we will have a 'hot episode.' I am concerned about Turkey's increased rhetoric. I urge Turkey to realize that turning foreign policy into a tool for intraparty use is not the right strategy," Mitsotakis said in Alexandroupolis, northern Greece when asked if a "worst-case scenario" in bilateral relations is possible.    

Read: Erdogan reviving Ataturk-era Turkey, waging wars and claiming hegemony

He noted that his country is ready to discuss and resolve "the only disagreement" with Turkey under international law.

"I hope that we have seen a crescendo of rhetoric with all these statements, that they will 'come one night to Greece,' and now the tone will be lowered," Mitsotakis said.  

Greece will not be told "how to exercise its sovereignty and its sovereign rights," Mitsotakis added.

Greece also needs to "strengthen its armed forces" and containment projects, the prime minister noted, such as the 25-mile fence near the Evros River crossing at the border with Turkey, the construction of which has proven effective.

Related News

Turkey accuses Greece of manipulating meetings in relation to NATO

Greece aggravating tensions in region: Turkish Defense Minister

A couple of days ago, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias sent a letter to the EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell in which he requested that sanctions be imposed against Turkey due to the provocative behavior of the Turkish coast guard and the continued illegal fishing activities in Greek territorial waters.

Back in December, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar warned Greece not to get dragged too far when it comes to its actions in the Aegean Sea, stressing that there would be consequences if Athena arms Aegean islands and extends goes beyond its territorial waters. Ankara has on several occasions stressed that it would consider Greece expanding its territorial waters a reason for war.

Turkey believes such actions from Greece, which could see it doubling its 9.65 km territorial waters to 19.31 km, could cut off Turkish waters and deprive Ankara of accessing international waters, effectively trapping it in its territorial waters.

Greece has also reportedly been pressuring the US not to sell upgraded F-16 combat aircraft to Turkey, citing its own security concerns.

Read more: Turkey may turn to Russia if US blocks F-16 sales: Erdogan

In response, Erdogan has refused to communicate with Mitsotakis, accusing him of violating the agreements reached.    

Greece and Turkey have been at odds over maritime borders and energy exploration rights in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean seas for years.

Turkey's president, meanwhile, recently accused Greece of "occupying" the Aegean islands, whose status was determined by treaties signed following World War I. Simultaneously, Athens accused Turkey of carrying out hundreds of illegal military sorties over the islands.

In violation of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey repeatedly accused Greece of deploying weapons to the Aegean islands in the Eastern Mediterranean. In August this year, Greece used S-300 air defense systems to lock a Turkish F-16 performing a reconnaissance mission near Rhodes. 

  • Aegean Sea
  • United States
  • Turkey
  • Kyriakos Mitsotakis
  • F-16
  • Greece
  • Mediterranean Sea
  • European Union

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS