Greece has told Turkey it cannot join European defense mechanisms as long as it continues to threaten war, according to ...

Greece has told Turkey it cannot join European defense mechanisms as long as it continues to threaten war, according to a senior Greek diplomatic source speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The source was blunt: Turkey's bid to participate in broader EU defense structures "cannot move forward as long as a war threat exists." Athens views this as a matter of principle, not negotiation. Greece has made clear it will not make concessions on its core positions even as bilateral dialogue channels remain open at all levels, from ministry staff up to the military. On the Greece-Turkey structured dialogue, the source said the three main pillars, which are confidence-building measures, political dialogue, and the positive agenda, are all continuing as planned. No specific dates have been set yet, but meetings are being scheduled. Still, the source was direct: when Turkey takes actions that clash with Greek positions, "there will be a corresponding response." Greece's diplomatic calendar is unusually heavy in October, with Athens holding the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council. The source said Greece will have a significant say in the selection process for the next UN Secretary-General, as the presidency is tasked with finding consensus among council members. On the Cyprus problem, the source described Turkish President Erdogan's recent positioning as "unproductive," despite Ankara showing a slightly softer tone on Greek-Turkish relations more broadly. The source said there is "a lot of movement" on the Cyprus file but current signals don't allow for optimism before the current UN Secretary-General's term ends. The source also flagged serious concern over energy security across Europe, warning that if the current situation in the Middle East continues, it will almost certainly lead to a food supply crisis and sharp price increases in basic goods. Greece itself, the source said, has no supply problem for this winter due to existing reserves. On Iran, Greece's foreign minister conveyed Athens' positions on freedom of navigation and maritime security during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, but the source said Iran "is n...