Greece Warns Turkey: 'We Will Do Whatever Is Necessary'

Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis sent a firm message to Turkey today (Monday), making clear that Athens is prepared to act if it sees its rights being violated. In an interview with the Greek television channel OPEN TV, the minister addressed the possibility of a maritime confrontation between the countries and stressed that Greece has various options for responding on the ground: "It is self-evident that Greece will fully exercise its sovereign rights," Gerapetritis said. He later clarified: "We will do whatever is necessary. We will respond to provocations, and we will respond from a position of strength."

The minister was specifically asked how Athens would act in a scenario in which Turkey sends two frigates to the area, and whether Greece would respond with a parallel move. Gerapetritis avoided committing to the number of vessels that would be sent, but sought to emphasize the military capabilities his country already has and those expected to join its arsenal in the near future: "Greece has proven that it can send frigates and can send F-16 aircraft, and from next year onward it will also send F-35 aircraft."

According to him, those capabilities have already been demonstrated in Cyprus and during the Middle East crisis. He added that Greece is now in a stronger position and will act, as needed, to defend its national interests.

Alongside the firm message, Gerapetritis made clear that Athens does not intend to abandon the diplomatic channel with Ankara. Asked whether talks with Turkey would continue, he replied: "Yes, we will continue talking." According to him, Greece wants to maintain dialogue with all its neighbors, "even those with whom we have problems." He argued that the dialogue held with Turkey in recent years has even produced results for Greece in various areas.

The Greek foreign minister also pointed to the network of regional alliances Athens has built, led by the trilateral framework with Israel and Cyprus and its ties with the United States. According to him, these relationships improve Greece’s ability to deal with security challenges in the region.

שר החוץ גדעון סער וגראפטריטיס (צילום: אסי אפרתי, לע״מ)

Gerapetritis also addressed the past three years, which he described as a period of "calm waters," arguing that during that time Turkey had not succeeded in presenting Greece with faits accomplis. At the same time, he said, Athens significantly strengthened its regional standing: "Therefore, during the three years of 'calm waters,' not only do we not have faits accomplis from Turkey, but Greece has an especially upgraded status."

His comments take on added significance amid renewed closeness between Israel and Greece, as tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara grow. In recent months, Israel and Greece have been deepening their security and diplomatic cooperation.