The Greek government has issued a firm warning that it will block Turkey’s bid to join SAFE, the EU’s new defense shield and military technology development program.
Ankara’s move is viewed in Athens as “offensive and hypocritical,” given Turkey’s long-standing casus belli—its formal threat of war should Greece extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles—while it continues provocative overflights and military maneuvers in the Aegean Sea.
Government sources cited by ERT emphasized that Greece retains full veto rights at both the initial consultation stage and final approval stage of the process. Although SAFE regulations are normally approved by qualified majority voting, Greek diplomacy secured a special clause requiring any third country to conclude a bilateral agreement with the EU to ensure that no member state’s interests are harmed.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis have both made it clear that Greece will not compromise or accept “discounts” on matters of national sovereignty. This message comes amid escalating Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and is part of Athens’ broader strategy to strengthen alliances within the EU and NATO, positioning Turkey as a destabilizing force in the region.
