Dendias Warns of Turkish Threat to Greek Islands

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, in a Fox News Digital interview, expressed concern over what he perceives as neo-Ottoman ambitions within Turkey. He suggested that some in Turkey yearn for the restoration of the Ottoman Empire, encompassing territories currently belonging to Greece, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and parts of the Caucasus. Dendias characterized this as a “daydream” but acknowledged its potential to disrupt relations with Greece and within NATO.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6368066833112

He highlighted Turkey’s pursuit of regional resources and controversial geopolitical activities in the Aegean and Middle East as indicative of this expansionist mindset. Dendias believes that the close relationship between US and Turkish presidents might provide an opportunity for Donald Trump to urge President Erdogan to respect international law and maritime rules. He cautioned against encouraging Turkey’s actions, warning it could destabilize NATO’s eastern flank, especially given existing tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Referring to Turkey’s recent “Blue Homeland” military exercises, Dendias labeled them a “neo-imperialist, neo-Ottoman approach” involving claims on Greek islands in the Aegean, and even Crete, home to a significant NATO presence and a US base. He emphasized that these strained relations necessitate Greece’s heightened defense spending within the alliance.

Source: pagenews.gr