Greece warns Turkey against violating sovereign rights, vows response from 'position of strength'

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis warned Turkey against violating Greek sovereign rights, stating Greece is prepared to respond from a "position of strength." He described Turkey's "maritime parks" as illegal and said Greece is ready for any scenario, including deploying frigates and F-16s. Gerapetritis also highlighted Greece's military buildup and cooperation with Israel, while Greek officials noted warming relations with Jerusalem. The article omits Turkey's perspective and lacks official Israeli confirmation on a reported possible strike scenario.

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis issued a strong warning to Turkey on Monday, stating that "the Greece of passive diplomatic stagnation belongs definitively to the past." In an interview with Greek television channel OPEN TV, Gerapetritis said any attempt to violate Greek sovereign rights "will be met with every means at our disposal." He described the "maritime parks" promoted by Turkey as "illegal and lacking legal validity," while stressing that Greece is "fully prepared for any scenario." When 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 that it can send frigates and can send F-16s, and from next year onward it will also send F-35s," he said. The foreign minister also pointed to Greece's ongoing military buildup, citing Rafale fighter jets, upgraded F-16 aircraft, and Belharra-class frigates. Addressing Greece's relationship with Israel, Gerapetritis said cooperation with Jerusalem is not an "overinvestment," but part of a broader foreign policy. Greek officials told N12 that relations between Israel and Greece are "warming up again," and security cooperation is due to expand. Defense industry sources described a recent air exercise over the Mediterranean as a "message to the Turks." Separately, Greek media outlet Pro News reported a scenario in which Israel could strike Turkish targets in northern Cyprus, citing the Israeli operation against the Abu al-Duhur base in Syria's Idlib province as a possible model.