GREEK DEFENSE SPARKS ANGRY REACTION FROM TURKEY

A frenemy spat has erupted between Ankara and Athens over Greek plans to strategically deploy a Patriot air defense system on the island of Karpathos in the Dodecanese, between Rhodes and Crete. Beefing up the country's air defense reinforcement is necessary due to the escalation of the war in the Middle East. Turkey claims the Eastern Aegean Sea is a demilitarized zone. Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli claimed today that Greece's plans are in violation of the demilitarized status of the Aegean islands and characterized the plans as "unserious, unfortunate and untimely".

Turkey protesting the purely defensive measures taken by Greece, in such turbulent times, is all one needs to know about its role.

For the record, Turkey is not a party to the 1947 Paris Treaty by which Italy gave the Dodecanese to Greece, and has no right to invoke its clauses. pic.twitter.com/83Izkxnb9L

— e-Αmyna (@e_amyna) March 5, 2026

Keceli argued that under the framework of the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923 (link) and the Treaty of Paris of 1947 (link), the islands of the Eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese have been placed under a non-military status and there is no basis for a dispute about their legal status. 

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lana Zochiou in a reaction said that unilateral claims regarding the demilitarization of the Aegean islands are unfounded and have been repeatedly rejected. Turkey is not even a contracting party to the Treaty of Paris of 1947 (link). She added that "these treaties leave no room for doubt regarding the status of the islands".

Greece has responded that Turkey’s interpretation is legally incorrect and emphasized its sovereign right to defend its territory against threats of Iran and its proxy Hezbollah, Zochiou stressed noting that "the prevailing uncertainty and the risk of further escalation of the war calls for prudence and restraint, not for unproductive statements".

Regarding the attacks from Iranian proxies in Lebanon on Cyprus, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has said that measures taken by Athens are "absolutely sufficient" to shield Greece. He also noted that Greece is on the outer limits of Iranian weapons’ range. Speaking to Alpha TV, he added that if a threat emerges, other defense systems will kick in. 

He confirmed the deployment of a Patriot anti-aircraft battery to Karpathos to improve national coverage. Dendias said there is no reason to coordinate with Turkey on Greece’s military mobilization, stressing that Ankara understands the need to defend national territory.

Dendias reiterated that Greek armed forces in the Republic of Cyprus serve the entire population of the island and assessed that Turkey will understands Greece’s need to protect the island (link).

He referred to remarks earlier today by the Turkey's Defense Ministry’s spokesman, rear admiral Zeki Akturk saying that Turkey will not hesitate to act against "hostile attitudes" towards the Turkish Cypriots as the conflict in the region widens.

He said that Turkey is by the side of TRNC, the Turkish occupied zone in Northern Cyprus. "Turkey will not hesitate to use the powers granted to us by our guarantor status against hostile attitudes which threaten the security of the Turkish Cypriots", he said in a press conference.

On Cyprus his comments are interpreted as a warning to Iran (link), not threats against Greece or the countries sending naval assistance to the East Med. But European capitals are increasingly worried that Turkey could exploit the turmoil to press its own claims on the divided island.

Euractive writes that Turkey, which has refused US access to its military bases for strikes against Iran, has reacted with alarm to Greece’s military mobilization in southeastern Europe. 

Asked how Greece would respond if Turkey sent military reinforcements to protect the Turkish Cypriot community, Dendias tied the Turkish leadership to Iran-aligned groups.

"If I am not mistaken, Hezbollah is closely linked to the Turkish leadership, and the Muslim Brotherhood, a sister organization of Hezbollah, which operates freely within Turkey. So, protect them from whom", Dendias asked (link)?

Greek Australian news outlet, Greek City Times has an analysis of an article on the Iran war in the Turkish newspaper, Hürriyet. 

"Ankara is now trying to present itself as a force for stability, while Israel is viewed, in the Turkish perspective, as a factor that escalates crises. The IMEC transport route also remains a focus. The Turkish newspaper Hürriyet appears fearful, reporting a plan for a "Hexagon of Alliances" extending from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean aimed at Turkey.

Hudson Institute journalist Zineb Riboua has an interesting analysis of Erdogan's foreign policy stance on X (link):

"The dual posture—deploring all parties while positioning to inherit the aftermath—is typical Erdogan. What distinguishes this moment is the sheer scale of the opportunity now available to him". 

Mitsotakis: Greek military mission to Cyprus defensive https://t.co/rWH65361gn pic.twitter.com/n5mvMXAxYJ

— Kathimerini English Edition (@ekathimerini) March 5, 2026

Defense Minister Dendias:

The government’s constitutional duty is to protect Greek territory, Greek citizens, and Greece’s national interests — as well as European interests, since we are also European citizens.

We have taken the necessary measures. Initiatives such as the… pic.twitter.com/kRLnpGf6Ap

— Greek Report 🇬🇷 (@GreekReporterr) March 5, 2026

Athens responds to Ankara over demilitarization claims https://t.co/AbGONHkT5J pic.twitter.com/6yZ7SwqJaV

— Kathimerini English Edition (@ekathimerini) March 5, 2026

- More on Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Dodecanese -