Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis firmly ruled out any negotiations with Turkey on matters of national sovereignty, in a televised interview with SKAI anchor Sia Kossioni on Tuesday evening.
“Greece does not discuss issues of sovereignty. We will never accept the theory of ‘grey zones’, nor will we allow Turkey to dictate what we can or cannot do within our sovereign territory,” Mitsotakis stressed.
He said that while tensions have eased recently, allowing for improved management of migration and fewer extreme confrontations, the only existing dispute between the two nations remains the delimitation of maritime zones and continental shelf boundaries.
Mitsotakis confirmed a planned meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, and said the next High-Level Cooperation Council between the two countries would be scheduled “in due course.”
Addressing criticism from political opponents within Greece, Mitsotakis defended his proactive foreign policy and rejected what he described as the “theory of inaction.” He contrasted the current approach to that of previous governments, saying: “Twitter diplomacy is easy, but we must be more careful.”
On environmental issues, he emphasized that Greece’s marine parks are strictly ecological initiatives within Greek territorial waters, determined by islands that indisputably belong to Greece.
Libya and the Illegal Turkish-Libyan Memorandum
Turning to the Libya situation, Mitsotakis said the country remains divided and fragile, and criticized the 2019 Turkish-Libyan maritime memorandum as “illegal and absurd,” with no legal effect.
He said the EU has explicitly declared the agreement invalid, and that major energy companies like Chevron have chosen to engage with Greece instead. Athens has invited the Tripoli government to start negotiations on maritime delimitation and expects technical committees to be formed soon.
Migration, Border Control, and SAFE Program
On migration, the Prime Minister reiterated Greece’s determination to defend its borders, stating: “We want to send a clear message to traffickers and their clients: arriving in Greece will not mean automatic entry.”
He warned against any suggestions that Greece should tolerate mass illegal migration and pledged full compliance with international law.
Cyprus Interconnection and Turkey’s Objections
Regarding the Cyprus–Greece power interconnection project, Mitsotakis said it would move forward despite Turkish objections. “The cable does not need approval from any coastal state. It’s a European project, and Turkey cannot both seek better EU ties and block EU infrastructure,” he said.
He added that Greece and Cyprus will resolve outstanding issues related to cost-sharing.
Turkey and F-16s: Deterrence and Alliances Matter
Mitsotakis also warned that Turkey’s inclusion in the EU’s SAFE defense initiative requires unanimity — which Greece will not support as long as Ankara maintains a casus belli or challenges Greek sovereignty.
Finally, he highlighted Greece’s bolstered deterrence since 2019 and said the lack of recent violations in the Aegean reflects Turkey’s awareness that arms deals like F-16s now come with strict conditions.
