Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis insists that Greece will block Turkey’s participation in a key European Union defense initiative unless Ankara annuls its long-standing threat of war against Athens.
Speaking from the floor of Parliament during a debate on foreign policy, Mr. Mitsotakis said his government's position is unequivocal.
"Greece will not consent to Turkey’s participation in the EU’s SAFE initiative… unless it rescinds a 'cause of war' threat against the country," he said.
The firm stance refers to Turkey's application to join the E.U.'s SAFE program, which is designed to boost the continent's defense industry.
Athens has repeatedly warned its E.U. partners that it cannot approve the inclusion of a country that maintains a formal casus belli, or threat of war, against a member state.
The threat dates back to a 1995 resolution by the Turkish parliament over potential territorial water extensions by Greece in the Aegean.
Mr. Mitsotakis also repeated Athens' long-held position that the only outstanding dispute between the two neighbors is the delimitation of the continental shelf in the Aegean Sea.
Pushing back against domestic political opponents who have criticized his government's policy of de-escalation with Ankara, the prime minister asked, "Why are some people criticizing this policy of calm waters with Turkey?
Do we want tensions?"