Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis called Turkey's casus belli threat against Greece a "massive weight" on bila...

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis called Turkey's casus belli threat against Greece a "massive weight" on bilateral relations and on Turkey's own European prospects, speaking on ERT television following the NATO Summit. Gerapetritis said he believes the casus belli could be lifted, calling it not just useful but overdue. He argued that under current international law, no country seeking a place in the global security architecture can maintain a war threat against a neighboring NATO ally. Turkey first issued the casus belli threat in 1995, warning of war if Greece extended its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles. The minister pushed back hard against opposition leader Alexis Tsipras, who called recent developments on Turkey and the F-35 program a "national defeat." Gerapetritis said Tsipras was lying, stating plainly that throughout Tsipras's entire time in government, Turkey was not only an F-35 customer but an active co-producer of the aircraft. Ankara was removed from the program at the end of 2019 after purchasing Russian S-400 systems, and Greece joined the F-35 program under the current Mitsotakis government. Gerapetritis also dismissed claims of secret negotiations with Ankara as "products of some people's imagination," saying he regularly briefs parliament, the National Security Council, and party leaders on diplomatic developments. On the broader question of whether Greece should cut off dialogue with Turkey entirely, he was direct. He called that option a "policy of destruction," noting that every Greek government since the restoration of democracy has kept communication channels open with Ankara. He also pointed out that under Antonis Samaras, Greece held two meetings with Erdogan and six rounds of exploratory talks. Asked about Turkey's rumored arms agreements following Trump's warm reception at NATO, Gerapetritis said no commitment or promise to Ankara exists and that everything else is speculation. #GreeceNATO #GreeceTurkey #Gerapetritis