Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis issued a sharp rebuttal to recent remarks by his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, who accused Greek politicians of exploiting anti-Turkish sentiment for domestic political gain.
Speaking after Fidan’s televised interview in Turkey, Gerapetritis stressed that Greece’s foreign policy is not defined by Turkey, nor does Athens harbor hostile ambitions.
“Greece has neither phobic syndromes nor is defined in reference to Turkey,” Gerapetritis said. “We do not accept instructions from anyone. We understand the discomfort that can be caused by Greece’s strong and active foreign policy. Let everyone get used to this reality and not turn embarrassment into hostility.”
He added that Athens continues to seek good neighborly relations, but warned that inflammatory rhetoric undermines stability. “Good-neighborly relations, which Greece has always sought, are not advanced through immoderate and untimely statements,” he concluded.
Turkish FM Fidan on Greek stance: “Greece practices cheap politics”
In an interview with Turkish broadcaster TGRT Haber, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Greek politicians, including Nikos Dendias, currently serving as Greece’s Minister of Defense, of turning to Turkey-related issues whenever they face domestic challenges, describing the practice as “cheap politics.”
“Unfortunately, in Greece’s domestic politics, issues related to Turkey are the first to shape the agenda. It is like a political aspirin. If you have a problem, bring up Turkey, the Mediterranean, the Aegean,” Fidan argued.
He went further, comparing Greek politics to Pavlov’s conditioned reflex experiments. “There is a political conditioned reaction. With the mere mention of Turkey, this reflex activates within Greek politics,” he said, framing Greek leaders’ rhetoric as automatic and unconstructive.
Warning against “anti-Turkish sentiment” by Greek politicians
Fidan also escalated his criticism by accusing Greek leaders of fostering fear for electoral gain. “They show the people a constant Turkish threat. Essentially, they are not saying, ‘elect me over the opposition.’ This is cheap politics,” he declared.
He warned that such approaches could backfire, creating broader strategic consequences. “They must not open the door to crises that could generate geostrategic costs for their own state,” Fidan said. “For small personal gains, they risk political and strategic consequences that their people will ultimately pay for.”
Ankara signals readiness for confrontation
While urging Athens to abandon what he called “anti-Turkish sentiment,” Fidan emphasized that Ankara would not shy away from confrontation.
“We do not hesitate to enter into polemics with Greek politicians. We do not hesitate to answer them, on every issue,” he cautioned. Fidan further accused Greece of attempting to isolate Turkey in the past.
“We know what they have done, with whom, and how they tried to besiege Turkey. We saw it, we took measures, and we continue,” he asserted.
At the same time, Fidan expressed hope that Greek politics might evolve toward what he described as the “maturity and self-confidence” of Turkish politics, enabling more constructive dialogue in the future.
Greek-Turkish relations under strain
The latest exchange underscores the fragility of Greek-Turkish relations, which oscillate between cautious engagement and renewed tensions. Despite recent attempts at dialogue, issues ranging from maritime disputes to defense policies continue to fuel mistrust between the two NATO allies.
For Athens, Gerapetritis’ rebuttal signals a determination to resist Ankara’s narratives while reaffirming Greece’s longstanding call for stability and respect for international law.
For Ankara, Fidan’s comments reflect ongoing frustration with what Turkey views as Greece’s reliance on anti-Turkish rhetoric.
As both sides trade barbs, prospects for de-escalation appear uncertain, with rhetoric once again overshadowing the fragile process of building good, neighborly relations.