With a tone that was calm, deliberate and strategically revealing, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis moved to frame Greece’s position on Turkey as stable, restrained and institutionally confident, while sending layered messages both domestically and abroad.
In an interview with Foreign Policy Editor-in-Chief Ravi Agrawal, Mitsotakis stated unequivocally that he does not see a risk of escalation with Turkey, stressing that the only dispute between the two countries is the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf.
A “narrow agenda” by design
The Prime Minister’s insistence on one and only one dispute was no accident. According to government insiders, it is a direct rebuttal to long-standing Turkish efforts to broaden the agenda to include issues such as demilitarization or so-called “grey zones”.
“There is no reason to expand the agenda,” Mitsotakis emphasized — a phrase widely interpreted as a red line to Ankara and a reassurance to allies that Greece will not negotiate sovereignty under pressure.
The timing is also notable: the interview comes ahead of Mitsotakis’ scheduled meeting with President Erdoğan on February 11, with Athens clearly opting for low rhetoric, high institutional confidence.
“Greece is stronger than it was five years ago”
Mitsotakis anchored his optimism in hard power. He underlined that Greece today is in a far stronger position militarily than in the past, citing sustained investment in the Armed Forces and defense capabilities.
“We are not naïve,” he said, acknowledging that international relations have become increasingly transactional — a line that resonates strongly in Brussels and Washington alike.
Behind the scenes, this is seen as a vindication of Greece’s defense-heavy strategy, at a moment when many European states are scrambling to catch up.
Geography, tourism and soft power
One of the more subtle messages came with Mitsotakis’ reminder that “geography does not change.” His reference to allowing Turkish visitors easier access to eastern Aegean islands was not merely about tourism.
Government sources describe this policy as a tool of soft power — confidence-building without concessions, and economic interdependence without political compromise.
Migration, the Coast Guard and the Chios tragedy
On migration, Mitsotakis reaffirmed Greece’s “firm but fair” approach:
- no tolerance for illegal entry,
- protection for those entitled to asylum,
- openness to legal migration through bilateral labor agreements.
Addressing the recent deadly shipwreck off Chios, the Prime Minister defended the Hellenic Coast Guard, noting that 25 lives were saved, while calling for a full and transparent investigation.
“The Coast Guard is not a welcoming committee — but it is also a life-saving force,” he said, drawing a careful institutional line amid international scrutiny.
Energy as geopolitical leverage
Mitsotakis placed strong emphasis on energy, describing Greece as a co-architect of Europe’s new energy security architecture.
With renewables generating roughly half of Greece’s electricity, rising exports, and major players such as Chevron and Exxon entering the picture, Athens is positioning energy as a strategic geopolitical tool, not just an economic sector.
Europe, the US and a shifting West
On transatlantic relations, the Prime Minister was notably candid. He acknowledged that traditional Western bonds have weakened, but insisted they remain strategically indispensable.
Greece, he said, continues to invest in its privileged defense relationship with the United States, while also pushing for European-level defense financing, including the idea of joint borrowing.
The political takeaway
Mitsotakis’ message is carefully calibrated: no escalation, no illusions, no agenda creep.
Athens is betting on strategic patience, reinforced defense, energy leverage and institutional credibility — a posture that treats stability not as passivity, but as strength under control.
In Greek-Turkish relations, the Prime Minister appears determined to keep the debate narrow, legal and predictable — precisely because unpredictability is the real danger.
Source: pagenews.gr