Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis sent a clear message just days after the NATO Summit: Greece is playing a leading role in international developments—not passively observing geopolitical shifts. Speaking to ERT, he defended the government’s strategy toward Turkey and responded to opposition criticism over foreign policy management. “Greece is a very strong NATO ally and a very strong pillar of the European Union,” he stated.
Turkey’s ‘Casus Belli’ Called a Major Obstacle
Referring to recent Turkish leadership contacts with former U.S. President Donald Trump, Gerapetritis noted that while the tone appeared positive, “no one can claim there is any commitment or promise” regarding Ankara’s arms procurement plans—adding that any other interpretation remains mere speculation.
He singled out Turkey’s longstanding parliamentary resolution declaring a casus belli against Greece—a legal pretext for war—as “a tremendous burden” on bilateral relations and on Turkey’s European integration path. “My sense is that its removal could happen. It would be useful—but I believe it’s also overdue,” he said, stressing that it contradicts modern international law for a country seeking to participate in the global security architecture to maintain a formal threat of war against a neighbouring and allied state.
Dialogue with Turkey Remains Essential
Gerapetritis rejected calls to halt all dialogue with Ankara. “Refusing to talk to Turkey at all would truly be a policy of self-destruction,” he said, pointing out that every Greek government since the restoration of democracy has maintained communication channels with Turkey. He recalled that during Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s tenure, two high-level meetings took place with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—and six rounds of exploratory talks were held.
The key question, he stressed, is whether dialogue yields tangible benefits for Greece—and he asserted that “over the past three years, Greece has emerged unequivocally strengthened.”
No Secret Diplomacy, Minister Says
He dismissed claims about secret negotiations with Turkey as “products of imagination.” Gerapetritis emphasized that he regularly informs Parliament, the National Council for Foreign Policy, the relevant parliamentary committee, and party leaders. “There is nothing secret,” he added.
F-35s and Historical Accuracy
In response to criticism from former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras concerning F-35 developments and Turkey, Gerapetritis accused Tsipras of making inaccurate statements. “Mr. Tsipras falsely claims that Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program during his premiership,” he said, explaining that Ankara remained both a customer and co-producer of the aircraft until its removal at the end of 2019—following its purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system. In contrast, he noted, Greece joined the F-35 program under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s government.