Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of theHellenic Republic (left) and Pericles Dimitrolopoulos,
Editor-in-Chief of "To Vima" (right)
Greece is entering a new phase in its long and complicated relationship with Turkey, one defined less by the “calm waters” of recent years and more by a deliberate effort to project confidence, military readiness and diplomatic reach. In an interview with the Greek newspaper To Vima Tis Kyriakis, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said the period of reduced tensions was never meant to be permanent. Instead, it served as a strategic pause that allowed Athens to rebuild its capabilities and reposition itself in a volatile region.
“Calm waters are not an end in themselves,” he told To Vima. “They are a means to serve our national objectives.”
According to Gerapetritis, the de‑escalation period produced measurable gains. Airspace violations dropped, migration flows stabilized and the islands of the Eastern Aegean saw economic relief. More importantly, he argues, Greece used the time to strengthen its alliances and modernize its armed forces—steps he believes now place the country “at the height of its international influence.”
A Defence Posture Rebuilt
Greece’s military, weakened during the Greek financial crisis of 2009-2018, has undergone a significant overhaul. The country has acquired Rafale fighter jets, upgraded its fleet of F‑16s, commissioned new Belharra frigates and is preparing for the arrival of F‑35 aircraft. Gerapetritis says these investments have shifted the balance in the Aegean. “Our forces are now in a position of superiority in air and sea,” he said.
The modernization is meant to deter unilateral actions by Turkey, which has expanded its defence industry and maintains military footprints in Libya and Syria. Ankara’s regional ambitions, including its promotion of the “Blue Homeland” doctrine, continue to shape the strategic environment.
The Athens Declaration Under Strain
The Athens Declaration, launched in 2023 to stabilize relations with Turkey through a structured three‑pillar dialogue, is now under pressure. Ankara’s recent moves—including new maritime claims and the announcement of two “environmental parks” extending into waters Greece considers part of its continental shelf—have raised questions about the viability of the framework.
Gerapetritis rejects the idea that the declaration is defunct. “In a volatile international environment, it is important to have a clear framework for peaceful resolution,” he said. He noted that the declaration marked the first time Turkey explicitly accepted globally recognized principles of international law.
Still, he was unequivocal about the new Turkish maritime parks initiative. The parks, he said, are “illegal” and “produce no legal effect,” adding that the decrees establishing them contain “only coordinates, not environmental protections.” Any attempt to infringe on Greek sovereign rights, he warned, would be met “with every appropriate means.”
Greece’s Maritime Strategy
Athens has advanced its own maritime agenda, completing its first comprehensive Maritime Spatial Plan and designating two new National Marine Parks in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. These initiatives impose environmental restrictions on navigation and fishing, but they also serve a strategic purpose: documenting Greece’s maritime zones in a manner consistent with international law.
Critics argue that Greece limited itself to six nautical miles while Turkey extended its claims into international waters. Gerapetritis dismissed the comparison. “International law is not applied à la carte,” he said, framing Greece’s adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a long‑term investment in legal credibility.
Strategic Partnerships Beyond the Aegean
Greece has deepened ties with Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, while maintaining strong relations with the United States and France. Gerapetritis described Greece as a net provider of regional security, pointing to its leadership roles in EU naval missions in the Red Sea and Central Mediterranean.
He also highlighted the Greece‑Cyprus electricity interconnection project, recently strengthened by French investor Meridiam, as evidence of growing European involvement in Eastern Mediterranean energy infrastructure.
A More Confident Greece
Gerapetritis insists that Greece’s foreign policy is sovereign and proactive. “The era of passive diplomatic inertia is over,” he said. “It has been replaced by an era of confidence and initiative.” As tensions with Turkey re‑emerge, Greece appears determined to anchor its strategy in international law, strengthened alliances and a modernized defence posture—while keeping diplomatic channels open, but firmly structured.
To read the full interview in Greek, click here.
_____
HCRI w/ notes from the CFR; MFAHR; NORDMON; IRIS; EKATH; PMHR; FDLMB; UN.
“Calm waters are not an end in themselves,” he told To Vima. “They are a means to serve our national objectives.”
According to Gerapetritis, the de‑escalation period produced measurable gains. Airspace violations dropped, migration flows stabilized and the islands of the Eastern Aegean saw economic relief. More importantly, he argues, Greece used the time to strengthen its alliances and modernize its armed forces—steps he believes now place the country “at the height of its international influence.”
A Defence Posture Rebuilt
Greece’s military, weakened during the Greek financial crisis of 2009-2018, has undergone a significant overhaul. The country has acquired Rafale fighter jets, upgraded its fleet of F‑16s, commissioned new Belharra frigates and is preparing for the arrival of F‑35 aircraft. Gerapetritis says these investments have shifted the balance in the Aegean. “Our forces are now in a position of superiority in air and sea,” he said.
The modernization is meant to deter unilateral actions by Turkey, which has expanded its defence industry and maintains military footprints in Libya and Syria. Ankara’s regional ambitions, including its promotion of the “Blue Homeland” doctrine, continue to shape the strategic environment.
The Athens Declaration Under Strain
The Athens Declaration, launched in 2023 to stabilize relations with Turkey through a structured three‑pillar dialogue, is now under pressure. Ankara’s recent moves—including new maritime claims and the announcement of two “environmental parks” extending into waters Greece considers part of its continental shelf—have raised questions about the viability of the framework.
Gerapetritis rejects the idea that the declaration is defunct. “In a volatile international environment, it is important to have a clear framework for peaceful resolution,” he said. He noted that the declaration marked the first time Turkey explicitly accepted globally recognized principles of international law.
Still, he was unequivocal about the new Turkish maritime parks initiative. The parks, he said, are “illegal” and “produce no legal effect,” adding that the decrees establishing them contain “only coordinates, not environmental protections.” Any attempt to infringe on Greek sovereign rights, he warned, would be met “with every appropriate means.”
Greece’s Maritime Strategy
Athens has advanced its own maritime agenda, completing its first comprehensive Maritime Spatial Plan and designating two new National Marine Parks in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. These initiatives impose environmental restrictions on navigation and fishing, but they also serve a strategic purpose: documenting Greece’s maritime zones in a manner consistent with international law.
Critics argue that Greece limited itself to six nautical miles while Turkey extended its claims into international waters. Gerapetritis dismissed the comparison. “International law is not applied à la carte,” he said, framing Greece’s adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a long‑term investment in legal credibility.
Strategic Partnerships Beyond the Aegean
Greece has deepened ties with Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, while maintaining strong relations with the United States and France. Gerapetritis described Greece as a net provider of regional security, pointing to its leadership roles in EU naval missions in the Red Sea and Central Mediterranean.
He also highlighted the Greece‑Cyprus electricity interconnection project, recently strengthened by French investor Meridiam, as evidence of growing European involvement in Eastern Mediterranean energy infrastructure.
A More Confident Greece
Gerapetritis insists that Greece’s foreign policy is sovereign and proactive. “The era of passive diplomatic inertia is over,” he said. “It has been replaced by an era of confidence and initiative.” As tensions with Turkey re‑emerge, Greece appears determined to anchor its strategy in international law, strengthened alliances and a modernized defence posture—while keeping diplomatic channels open, but firmly structured.
To read the full interview in Greek, click here.
_____
HCRI w/ notes from the CFR; MFAHR; NORDMON; IRIS; EKATH; PMHR; FDLMB; UN.
RSS Feed
