Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis responded directly to Turkey's provocative maritime park declarations this w...

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis responded directly to Turkey's provocative maritime park declarations this week, telling Greek broadcaster OPEN that Greece is "vigilant but not worried" because it has the power to enforce its national interests on every front. Gerapetritis confirmed that the Greek government formally notified European authorities last week of Turkey's provocative actions, and said further official steps and formal positions will be presented at the Foreign Affairs Council in the coming days. He was clear that "calm waters" diplomacy does not mean Greece is backing down from any of its core national positions. The minister argued that Greece, for the first time in decades, holds the initiative. Turkey, he said, is reacting to Greek moves, including Greece's maritime spatial planning, marine parks, and undersea resource exploration, not the other way around. He said Turkey's objections are not new and trace back decades, but what is new is Greece's diplomatic, economic, and defense strength. On defense, Gerapetritis was blunt. He said Greece can deploy frigates, F-16s, and starting next year F-35s, and has already proven this in Cyprus and during the Middle East crisis. He rejected criticism from former PM Antonis Samaras, who accused the government of "internationally whitewashing Turkey" through its calm-waters approach, saying Greece has come out of that policy as the clear winner. Regarding the transfer of Patriot missile batteries from Karpathos to Crete, Gerapetritis said the decision was purely operational, made on the recommendation of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff and adopted by the Government Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense. He added that Greece accepts no outside guidance on how it deploys its forces. On the Patriot battery deployed in Saudi Arabia, he said Greece will recall it if national needs require it, but stressed that the strategic alliance between Greece and Saudi Arabia goes well beyond any temporary geopolitical circumstances. #Greece #Turkey #Gerapetritis