In a recent television appearance, Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiades stirred diplomatic tensions by making provocative statements about Turkey. Referring to President Erdoğan’s previous comments about potential military actions, Georgiades said, “This ‘one night suddenly’ rhetoric makes me laugh. We, too, could suddenly fly to Turkey with our F-35s. I’m not saying we will, because we don’t want to, but Erdoğan’s statement amuses me.”
The background to these tensions includes Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, which began arriving in June 2019. The United States responded with significant opposition, citing concerns about the system’s compatibility with NATO defences and potential security breaches. Consequently, in July 2019, the US excluded Turkish partners from the production process of the F-35 fighter jets.
Turkey boasts the second-largest land forces in NATO and has formidable air and naval capabilities, making its military one of the most experienced within the alliance, especially its special forces. According to the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA) 2022 report, the Greek Air Force has an inventory of 372 active aircraft, of which 188 are combat-ready, and 137 are used for training. Additionally, Greece employs a personnel strength of 33,000 in its air force.
In contrast, the Turkish Air Force has nearly 700 manned aircraft, with almost half being combat aircraft. Turkey maintains 280 modernised combat aircraft that have been in service for over 20 years. The personnel strength of the Turkish Air Force exceeds 80,000. Overall, Turkey’s military, with more than 800,000 personnel, is one of the top five most powerful in NATO, while Greece’s 375,000-strong military ranks tenth, according to GlobalPower.
Georgiades emphasised Greece’s strong international alliances and criticised Turkey for creating regional conflicts. He mentioned, “Greece is a country with extremely strong international alliances, while Turkey is a country that causes problems everywhere. Erdoğan’s targeting of Dendias is a new tactic to create internal political issues in Greece.”
Highlighting the importance of dialogue, Georgiades recalled Erdoğan’s comments from September 2022 about the disputes over Aegean islands and reiterated the need for diplomacy. “We must talk with Turkey, whether we like it or not, as they are our neighbours. Talking does not mean compromising our sovereignty. Prime Minister Miçotakis has not ceded any of Greece’s rights to Turkey.”
Addressing the Cyprus issue, Georgiades pointed out that it remains the primary concern in Greek-Turkish relations. He cited the efforts of the President of Southern Cyprus to reopen dialogue, asserting, “Everyone desires a resolution to Cyprus’s illegal occupation. For those opposing dialogue, I ask: If not through dialogue, how will it be resolved?”
These remarks underscore the enduring complexities and historical grievances in Greek-Turkish relations, with the ongoing military posturing and geopolitical dynamics further complicating the regional stability.
