Turkish media outlets expressed frustration over Greece’s defense expansion plans, particularly Defense Minister Nikos Dendias’ Sunday announcement about deploying missile systems on Aegean islands to deter Turkish naval access.
Turkish newspapers Hurriyet and CNN Turk ran stories with headlines calling Dendias’ statement threatening.
Hurriyet’s front page declared: “Threatening statement from Dendias: ‘We will close the Aegean with missiles’ – Greece will deploy missiles on the islands in the Aegean!”
Greece’s Parliament is expected to approve Thursday the purchase of PULS-type missiles worth approximately 690 million euros from Israel.
The PULS system modernizes missile artillery and provides deep-strike capability.
These missiles will be deployed on Aegean islands. Greece recently approved the purchase of Israeli David’s Sling, Barak MX and Spyder systems, costing approximately 3 billion euros, awaiting final government security council approval.
The systems form part of “Achilles’ Shield,” a comprehensive defense system against threats from air, sea, underwater and drones.
Turkey attributes its exclusion from the EU’s SAFE defense loan mechanism to Athens’ position, viewing it as evidence of “intransigence” from Athens and Nicosia.
Ankara entered the SAFE process with active Berlin support and considers the setback temporary and surmountable.