In tune with Turkish media reports, the Turkish Defense Ministry (MoD) released a statement taking umbrage with the Greek Minister of defense, Nikos Dendias, over his remarks regarding Greece’s military plan to safeguard the Aegean Sea.

Without mentioning the Greek politician by name, the Turkish MoD states it is “closely following all developments in our region, including military activities of our neighboring country, Greece. As we always stress, ensuring the region, including the Aegean Sea, remains a zone of peace and stability is a top priority of our country.”

The statement underlines that Turkey is fulfilling its obligations to that end, adding, “We [Turkey] expect Greece to demonstrate a similar constructive stance.”

Referring indirectly but clearly to Dendias, the Turkish Ministry of Defense notes in its announcement that “the actions and rhetoric of certain Greek officials that increase tensions, as well as imaginary statements that run counter to international treaties, are detached from reality and serve no other purpose than to damage the positive atmosphere that has been created on the basis of the consensus between the leaders of the two countries.”

The ministry added that the Turkish Armed Forces “pose no threat to anyone who does not threaten Turkey,” but stressed they have “the strength and determination to eliminate any threat” against the country. “Attempts to target Turkey have failed in the past and will not succeed now or in the future,” it said.

Greece: Deterrence is not provocation

Responding to Ankara’s remarks, sources from the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence said Greece is “obliged to maintain its deterrent capability” amid a shifting geopolitical landscape, adding that such measures “cannot be interpreted as provocation.”

The same sources noted that Turkey maintains a standing threat of war, or casus belli, against Greece. They stressed that Greece “does not threaten anyone” and remains firmly committed to the UN Charter, international law, and the Law of the Sea.