Greek foreign minister outlines policy on Turkey and regional stability

On September 2, 2026, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis addressed the informal European Union Foreign Affairs Council in Ireland, emphasizing Greece's commitment to international law and territorial sovereignty. He briefed his counterparts on tensions in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that Greece will not accept any concessions regarding its sovereign rights and expects EU solidarity against any acts of aggression.

In a separate interview, Minister Gerapetritis discussed the status of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project, clarifying that no additional licensing or updates are required at this stage. He also evaluated the state of Greek-Turkish relations three years after the signing of the Athens Declaration. While acknowledging progress in bilateral trade, tourism, and a reduction in migratory flows and border violations, he noted that the core dispute regarding the delimitation of maritime zones remains unresolved. The minister stressed that the fundamental disagreement persists over the scope of issues to be discussed between the two nations.

Looking ahead, Greece intends to continue pursuing a dialogue with Turkey that specifically aims at the delimitation of maritime zones, despite the existing divergence in starting positions regarding the negotiating agenda.