In a move of high political symbolism, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis brought the issue of casus belli to the forefront of the NATO Summit on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. His intervention followed statements made in Ankara just before the summit by U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding the F-35 fighter jet program.
A Direct Message to Allies — and Ankara
Mitsotakis addressed the summit amid growing domestic and international concern over Trump’s remarks about reinstating Turkey into the F-35 program — concerns that had already surfaced within the U.S. Congress itself. Speaking before NATO allies, he underscored Greece’s longstanding position: Turkey has repeatedly declared that any Greek move to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea would constitute a casus belli — a justification for war.
“A coalition,” Mitsotakis said, “must be founded on the fundamental principle of good-neighborly relations. At the very moment my country faces a casus belli declaration from Turkey — should we exercise our legal right under international law and treaties to extend our territorial waters — I believe it must be clear that the sensitivities of all NATO members must be taken into account.”
He added: “We are, after all, a defensive alliance — and I am confident these outstanding issues can be resolved in the spirit of good-neighborly relations and cooperation.”
Putting the Alliance on Notice
By raising the matter publicly at NATO headquarters, Mitsotakis placed allied governments on notice: an ongoing, explicit threat of war exists between two member states — one directed by Turkey against Greece — simply because Athens may act within its internationally recognized rights. This is not a hypothetical scenario; it is a documented, repeated stance by Ankara.
As seasoned analysts point out, Mitsotakis’ statement reframes the debate in factual, institutional terms. It reaffirms that Greece is acting strictly within legal and diplomatic frameworks — and underscores that NATO cannot ignore or sidestep a formal threat of war issued by one ally against another.
Analysts also stress that the Alliance cannot overlook the sanctions imposed on Turkey — which remain in place — nor disregard Ankara’s continued pursuit of strategic balancing between competing geopolitical options.
Context: Trump’s F-35 Remarks
The timing was significant. On 7 July 2026, President Trump described Turkey’s potential re-entry into the F-35 program as a “decision we will consider.” He also expressed his desire to lift U.S. sanctions on Turkey, stating, “I don’t want sanctions on friends.” Yet he immediately referred the matter to Congress, noting that specific legal prerequisites and certifications are required under U.S. law — underscoring that any decision remains subject to legislative oversight.