Senior diplomatic sources in Athens on Thursday sent a clear message to both Ankara and Greece’s allies following the NATO Summit, making it clear that Turkiye’s participation in European defence structures, such as SAFE, is out of the question as long as it maintains a threat of war against Greece.
They stressed that Greece’s position is unequivocal: the existence of the casus belli constitutes a formal threat of war that is in no way diminished by the passage of time or its familiarity to public opinion. “It can only be diminished through its definitive withdrawal,” the sources emphasised, adding that Greece will continue to raise the issue at every level.
The sources recalled that the SAFE regulation now incorporates the requirement for a bilateral agreement between the European Union and a third country, creating a right of veto. This is regarded as a significant Greek achievement, with the SAFE 2025 precedent considered difficult to circumvent in future legislation.
F-35s: “There is no Trump decision”
The foreign ministry also placed particular emphasis on the issue of the F-35 fighter jets, following a debate sparked by recent remarks made by US President Donald Trump regarding Turkiye. The diplomatic sources stressed that there is no decision on Turkiye rejoining the programme, only a general intention by the US administration to review the matter.
As they pointed out, the process is complex and must pass through Congress. Any progress would require certification that Turkey no longer possesses the S-400 missile defence system, that no further transactions with Russia have taken place, and that there is no intention of future cooperation in this area.
The same sources rejected the perception that Turkiye “came away with everything”, arguing that Greece is already in a considerably stronger position. They noted that Athens now operates more than 50 F-16 Viper aircraft, has entered the F-35 programme, will begin pilot training next year, and expects delivery of its first aircraft in approximately three years.
Conditions on the use of allied weapons
Within the same context, Athens considers it self-evident that defence equipment supplied by one allied country should not be used offensively against another allied nation. The sources noted that while Greece cannot dictate the defence procurement policies of third countries, it can make its positions and concerns clear, particularly when a threat of war exists.
According to the same sources, this distinction is crucial: it is one thing to intervene within collective frameworks where Greece has a voice, and quite another to impose policy on a third country. For this reason, Athens dismisses as unrealistic any notion of a “veto on F-35s”, since the matter falls within the jurisdiction of the United States and its congressional procedures.
‘Blue Homeland’ – Athens is waiting, but taking preventive action
Regarding Turkiye’s so-called “Blue Homeland” doctrine, the sources said that Athens is adopting a wait-and-see approach until a specific Turkish legislative proposal emerges. They described the doctrine as an “ideological construct” without any legal foundation, which, they argued, has damaged not only Greek-Turkish relations but also Turkiye itself.
At the same time, they stressed that Greece is not passively waiting but taking preventive action by activating diplomatic and legal tools, noting that Athens has “a full arsenal of measures” at its disposal, including European Council conclusions and resolutions adopted by international organisations.
On the issue of maritime boundary delimitation with Turkiye, the same sources indicated that there is no immediate prospect of resuming substantive talks. The main obstacle remains disagreement over the scope of the agenda.
Greece maintains that the only dispute concerns the delimitation of the continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). As long as Turkiye insists on broadening the agenda, meaningful negotiations cannot begin, they said.
NATO: Article 5 in no way weakened
Regarding the NATO Summit, diplomatic sources assessed that proceedings unfolded as expected and perhaps even better than anticipated.
There were no tensions among allies, and Greece’s role as a consistent and reliable member of the Alliance was reaffirmed.
The same sources emphasised that, despite strains in transatlantic relations, there was no question of Article 5 being undermined. On the contrary, collective defence remains the foundation of NATO’s existence.
As for reports concerning NATO headquarters in Turkiye, the sources clarified that there was no such discussion or decision and no such issue on the summit agenda. What has been considered in a general way, they explained, is the use of national headquarters during periods of crisis to support NATO operations.
Cyprus: Awaiting the resumption of the UN process
On the Cyprus issue, Athens continues to monitor UN efforts to restart the process. Diplomatic sources noted that the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy remain engaged in consultations, although no clear timetable for five-party talks has yet emerged.
Greece’s position remains unchanged: a solution within the framework of UN resolutions and the agreed basis for negotiations. However, the sources acknowledged that there are currently no indications that the Turkish side is prepared to retreat from its key positions.
Libya, the Middle East, and Ukraine
In Libya, contacts were described as productive. In the near future, the visit of a Libyan technical committee to Athens is expected to be scheduled for a third round of discussions on maritime boundary delimitation.
At the same time, Greece is closely monitoring Libya’s internal political situation, intending to support a process leading to a unified government and elections. According to diplomatic sources, regular communication is maintained with the United States on this issue.
Regarding Iran, the same sources described the situation as extremely fragile, expressing particular concern over the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Athens remains in constant contact with Gulf countries, the United States, and Israel to maintain a comprehensive understanding of developments.
In Ukraine, Russian attacks are reported to be intensifying, including against civilian targets. Diplomatic sources believe that once the situation in the Middle East becomes clearer, efforts to advance a peace plan will once again become an immediate priority.
Athens also rejects suggestions that its close relationship with Israel constitutes a geopolitical liability. Diplomatic sources argued that the relationship provides significant strategic and diplomatic benefits without implying agreement on every issue.
They noted that Greece has, on several occasions, taken the lead in condemning specific Israeli actions. At the same time, relations with Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states are described as the strongest they have ever been.
Western Balkans and the Greek EU Presidency
In the Western Balkans, Athens continues to invest in the region’s European perspective, the sources noted. This autumn, Greece is expected to host the Friends of the Western Balkans Conference, while a series of visits to countries across the region will also be completed.
They noted that Greece’s forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union could provide fresh momentum for enlargement, with Montenegro currently viewed as the country closest to accession.
The same sources stressed that preparations for the Greek Presidency are considerably more advanced than at comparable stages in the past.
Staffing, priorities, and the accompanying programme have already been substantially developed, with the aim of ensuring a complete handover dossier before the presidency begins.
Finally, regarding the EU-Turkiye agenda, diplomatic sources noted that the customs union and visa liberalisation remain major issues, but that no substantial progress has been made.
The customs union, in particular, is regarded as highly challenging, since any expansion would effectively require full compliance with the EU acquis towards all member-states, including the Republic of Cyprus.
