Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared on Thursday at the Maximos Mansion in Athens that Greece will not accept dictates from anyone regarding how it strengthens its defense, responding directly to remarks from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Mitsotakis made the statement following a bilateral meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa, who visited the official seat of the Greek prime minister for talks on regional security and European Union relations.
The two leaders held discussions on Thursday afternoon before delivering joint statements to the press, where Mitsotakis outlined Greece's stance on national sovereignty, defense strategy, and maritime boundaries.
Aegean tension and European Union conditions
Mitsotakis noted that respect for international law and good neighborly relations remains an essential prerequisite for any candidate country seeking accession to the European Union.
He stated that there can be no active threat of war or questioning of Greek sovereignty by a country expecting to improve its standing with the bloc, adding that Turkey's European trajectory must align with peaceful neighborly relations.
The prime minister confirmed he would brief Costa on the recent escalation of Turkish provocations, particularly in the Aegean Sea region separating the two neighboring countries.
Mitsotakis also highlighted the SAFE defense initiative, reminding observers that participation in the program is strictly conditioned on ensuring that the security interests of European Union member states are not compromised.
Regional security and defense initiatives
Greece and Turkey have experienced longstanding diplomatic friction over airspace claims, territorial waters, and continental shelf boundaries in the Aegean Sea, leading to periodic heightening of military readiness.
The European Council, headed by Antonio Costa, represents the heads of state or government of European Union member states and defines the general political direction and strategic priorities of the European bloc.
Greek defense policy has increasingly focused on modernizing national armed forces and strengthening security infrastructure across border regions and Aegean islands.
In related national defense developments, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced a broader program containing 522 fortification projects across Greece scheduled for completion by 2030 to protect armed forces personnel.
Greek domestic political developments
Alongside defense matters, domestic political discussions in Athens have centered on economic policy proposals outlined by former prime minister and opposition leader Alexis Tsipras.
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis called for all economic pledges made by Tsipras to be independently costed by the Fiscal Council, while government official Alexandra Sdoukou also criticized the opposition's financial platform.
Separately, New Democracy Member of Parliament Andreas Nikolakopoulos raised inquiries with the ministry regarding regulations surrounding hunting rifle ownership for religious clergy members.
