Greece has taken a firm stance against Turkey’s potential participation in the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program, a European initiative aimed at strengthening the EU’s defense industry. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made it clear that as long as Turkey maintains its “casus belli” threat over the Aegean, Greece will block any Turkish entry into the program.
What is SAFE?
SAFE is a central EU mechanism to enhance the European defense sector through funding, joint ventures, and domestic production of advanced military systems, with an estimated budget of hundreds of billions of euros until 2030.
The program allows some participation from non-EU countries, but their involvement raises concerns when such countries have unresolved disputes with EU member states.
Greece’s Position
Prime Minister Mitsotakis has emphasized that Greece will veto any agreement allowing Turkey to join SAFE while the “casus belli” remains active. This parliamentary decree, dating back decades, threatens war in the event of Greek territorial water expansion beyond six nautical miles in the Aegean.
“Countries that threaten EU members with war have no place in such programs,” Mitsotakis stressed, adding that Greece will continue to block Turkey’s participation until it withdraws its military threats.
Turkey’s Perspective
Turkey sees SAFE as a strategic opportunity to showcase its growing defense industry and expand into European markets. Over recent years, Ankara has heavily subsidized domestic defense production and emerged as a major global player.
Defense Minister Yaşar Güler accused Greece of internationalizing bilateral disputes, while Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu argued that a European security architecture without Turkey is “unrealistic.”
Europe’s Position
Cyprus has aligned with Greece, emphasizing that the concerns of threatened member states must be considered. Other European governments have expressed understanding for Greece’s stance but have not fully ruled out Turkey’s involvement.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte supports Turkey’s participation in SAFE, seeing Ankara as a key partner in regional security and EU-NATO cooperation.
Arguments For and Against Greece’s Position
Supporting Greece:
- A country threatening war against a member state undermines EU security and cohesion.
- Protecting Greek and Cypriot sovereignty is non-negotiable.
- SAFE presumes partners committed to stability and international law.
Criticizing Greece:
- Excluding Turkey could deprive the EU of advanced defense technology and industrial capacity.
- Greece’s hardline stance risks entrenched diplomatic deadlock and heightened tensions.
- European defense requires strategic flexibility; Turkey could play a pivotal role in regional security.
Greece has turned Turkey’s potential entry into SAFE into a litmus test of the EU’s credibility: can a country threatening a member state be a reliable partner in joint defense initiatives?
The “casus belli” remains a red line, complicating prospects for compromise. Europe now faces a delicate balance between strengthening its defense capabilities and managing long-standing Greco-Turkish tensions. The outcome will determine whether SAFE becomes a unifying force or a new point of division.
Source: pagenews.gr