Turkey’s unease over Greece’s new defense posture is reflected in the tone of recent Turkish press reports, notably in Milliyet, which sharply criticized Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias following his comments on safeguarding the Aegean.

“Dendias Violates the Law in the Aegean,” the paper headlined, reiterating Ankara’s longstanding claims that Greece is breaching demilitarization clauses tied to early-20th-century treaties, including the 1914 decision of the Six Powers, the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Paris Treaty.

The article frames the military presence on Eastern Aegean islands as a violation of international agreements and part of a chain of disputes that Turkey argues directly affect its rights and interests. It repeats Ankara’s demand for the full demilitarization of a long list of islands, from Thasos and Lesvos to Rhodes, Kos and Kastellorizo.

Retired Turkish ambassador Oluc Ozulker told Milliyet that Greece’s plans for new systems, UAVs and missiles constitute a posture “bordering on a declaration of war,” adding that implementing such programs would be “economically and technically unrealistic” for Athens.

Ilter Turan, emeritus professor at Istanbul Bilgi University, called the Greek approach unfriendly at a time when good-neighborly relations should prevail. He argued that the strategy aims to counter Turkey’s air power but questioned its effectiveness, noting Ankara’s strong regional capabilities. The militarization issue, he said, remains rooted in the Lausanne and Montreux frameworks and is resurfacing amid concerns over renewed armament.