In a diplomatic standoff, Greece and Turkey are engaged in a high-stakes negotiation over Turkey's potential participation in the European Union's SAFE program. This confrontation, which has escalated in recent days, centers on Greece's demand for the repeal of Turkey's casus belli regarding the 12 nautical miles in the Aegean Sea, a move that Turkey views as a significant diplomatic hurdle.
The SAFE program, an EU financial mechanism designed to bolster Europe's defense capabilities, has been a point of contention between the two nations. Turkey has formally applied for inclusion in the program, a request supported by the majority of EU member states. However, Greece has firmly stated its opposition to Turkey's participation unless the casus belli is lifted, a stance that has fueled tensions between Athens and Ankara.
The Greek newspaper Efymerida ton Syntakton reports that the Greek position, repeatedly emphasized by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has provoked frustration in Turkey. Turkish officials argue that the deepening of Euro-Turkish defense cooperation, which would grant Turkey access to billions of euros for its defense industry, is being obstructed by Greece's diplomatic stance. This conflict reached a peak with a recent exchange of heated statements between Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.
Fidan criticized Greece's stance, suggesting that it fuels regional tensions. "The fact that the Greek Prime Minister boasts in the Greek Parliament about not accepting Turkey into the SAFE program to defend himself is an issue that needs to be taught. The security system of Europe has been taken over by one or two countries, like Greece. These countries have no relation to the security of Europe," Fidan stated, highlighting the need for collective security over individual interests.
In response, Dendias emphasized Greece's commitment to active and consistent foreign policy based on universal values of international law. "From these principles, we will not deviate, and anyone who is offended must accept it, as suggestions and criticisms are not acceptable," Dendias declared. He further stressed that Greece seeks peace and good neighborly relations but cannot compromise on issues of national interest.
The upcoming meeting between Dendias and Fidan at the margins of the Council of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg is eagerly anticipated. This meeting will likely see Dendias facing pressure from allies within the NATO and EU frameworks, who argue that Turkey's participation in the new European defense doctrine is more than necessary.
The SAFE program, intended to enhance Europe's defense capabilities by providing funds for military strengthening, has become a symbolic battleground for broader geopolitical tensions. Greece's insistence on the repeal of Turkey's casus belli reflects deeper historical and strategic concerns, particularly regarding the Aegean Sea disputes. Turkey, on the other hand, views its inclusion in SAFE as a crucial step towards enhancing its defense capabilities and integrating further into European security structures.
Photo: Gemini AI