Turkey and Greece exchange diplomatic rebukes over Aegean island militarization

On September 16, 2026, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, while visiting Damascus, claimed that the military fortification of Greek islands with demilitarized status poses a direct security threat to Turkey. Fidan alleged that Greece is being used as a tool to destabilize the region and urged Athens to adhere to international treaties, citing deep-seated concerns regarding Aegean security. He further accused the Greek political establishment of historical anti-Turkish sentiment.

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs promptly rejected these claims, characterizing them as legally unfounded and inconsistent with international law. Spokesperson Panagiotis Giannakoulias stated on September 16 that Greece operates its foreign policy independently and acts in full compliance with its sovereign right to self-defense. Athens further emphasized that Turkey's accusations are ironic, given that Ankara maintains an active casus belli—a formal threat of war—against Greece, which Greece views as a flagrant violation of international law. The exchange underscores the persistent diplomatic friction between the two nations regarding defense policies in the Aegean.