Greece formulates its foreign policy sovereignly and independently, not in a manner determined by third parties. Claims that Greece is ostensibly being instrumentalised with a view to destabilising the region bear no relation to reality. Greece has demonstrated in practice that it consistently works for regional and international peace and stability and poses no threat to anyone.
Greece, like every country, safeguards the defence and security of its entire territory.
Türkiye’s repeated unilateral claims concerning the demilitarisation of Greek islands in the Aegean lack basis in international law and have been repeatedly and categorically rejected in their entirety.
The status of the Greek islands of the Eastern Aegean is clearly determined by the international treaties in force. Greece, as a sovereign state, is fully entitled to take all necessary measures to ensure that it is able to exercise its inalienable right of self-defence.
Characterising the defence of Greek territory as a “threat” is not only unfounded but also an oxymoron, when Türkiye, in violation of international law, continues to maintain a threat of war (casus belli) against Greece in the event of the exercise of a lawful sovereign right.
Greece remains committed to good-neighbourly relations and dialogue, which, however, presuppose full respect for international law and abstention from threats and unfounded claims.
September 16, 2026