Defense ministry sources in Athens on Wednesday flatly rejected what they described as utterly “revisionist” Turkish positions regarding the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, hours after Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler revisited Ankara’s expansionist “Blue Homeland” doctrine while accusing Greece of violating what he claimed was demilitarized status of eastern Aegean islands.
“Greece exercises its sovereign rights with full adherence to international law and does not accept revisionist or arbitrary approaches seeking to transform unilateral interpretations into political faits accomplis,” the sources were quoted as saying.
The response came after Guler, speaking at a military event near the Greek border, in European Turkey, and specifically in the city of Edirne, said Ankara would continue defending its rights and interests in the Aegean, eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus, while also criticizing what he claimed was the militarization of Greek islands.
Turkish media and widely circulated videos from the event showed the Turkish defense minister repeating Ankara’s long-standing positions on the “Blue Homeland” doctrine and warning against initiatives that, in his words, create “faits accomplis” contrary to international agreements.
Greek defense ministry sources said statements promoting “legally unfounded positions” do not contribute to regional stability at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and multiple international crises.
“The Greek armed forces maintain a consistently high level of operational readiness and deterrent capability, safeguarding national sovereignty and national security,” the sources added.
The exchange comes amid renewed tensions between Athens and Ankara over reports that the increasingly heavy-handed Erdogan administration is preparing legislation that could formally codify elements of the “Blue Homeland” doctrine into domestic law, a move Greek officials view as an attempt to “institutionalize” its maritime claims in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean.
Over the past week, Greek media have reported growing concern in Athens over Ankara’s increasingly belligerent rhetoric, particularly regarding maritime zones, island demilitarization and eastern Mediterranean energy interests.
Greek diplomatic officials have repeatedly said any unilateral Turkish action would have no legal standing under international law and risk escalating tensions between the two NATO allies.
