Turkey’s foreign minister has warned that Greece risks paying “geostrategic costs” if its leaders continue to use anti-Turkish rhetoric as a political tool.
Speaking on Thursday to Turkish broadcaster TGRT Haber, Hakan Fidan accused Greek politicians — naming Defense Minister Nikos Dendias in particular — of invoking Turkey whenever they face difficulties at home. He described the rhetoric as “cheap politics” that could backfire on Athens.
“Don’t open the door to crises that may come at a cost to you,” Fidan said, stressing that Turkey would respond politically when necessary but urging Greece to show “maturity and self-confidence” in managing disputes.
Turkey and Greece, both members of NATO, have a decades-long rivalry shaped by disputes over maritime boundaries in the Aegean Sea, airspace violations, minority rights and the divided island of Cyprus. While both governments at times pledge to improve ties, their relationship often deteriorates when defense or sovereignty issues dominate domestic politics.
Athens quickly denounced Fidan’s remarks. On Friday Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis called them “provocative” and insisted that Greece will not accept instructions from any other country. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis added that Greece is a sovereign state guided by international law and will never put its sovereignty on the negotiating table.
The sharp exchange showcased how fragile the balance remains between the two countries, despite periodic efforts to calm tensions. The United States and the European Union have frequently urged both governments to resolve disputes peacefully, citing the importance of regional stability for NATO security.
Fidan on Syria: Threats must be dealt with across the border
In the same broadcast Fidan also addressed Syria, where Turkey has long opposed the presence of Kurdish-led forces along its southern border. These groups, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), were backed by the United States in the fight against the Islamic State group but are seen by Ankara as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged an armed insurgency inside Turkey since the 1980s and is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.
Fidan said Turkey has adopted a new security strategy of striking threats before they reach Turkish territory. “We don’t wait for a threat from across the border to come and hit us here,” he said. “We need to engage it across the border.”
While stressing that Turkey does not seek hostility and would not target any group or state unless provoked, he added that Ankara will not back down once hostility is shown. He also called for a political solution in Syria that would include reconciliation between the Syrian government and Kurdish groups, with guarantees of cultural and linguistic rights, but under a single armed authority controlled by the Syrian state.