Former PM Samaras slams Mitsotakis: “Enough about Türkiye!”
Türkiye-related debates have resurfaced in Greece as former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras criticized the government of Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis for a perceived weak stance toward Ankara.
Speaking to ANT1, Samaras accused the government of being “concessionary and ineffective” in its Türkiye policy, saying, “Türkiye gains influence in the region while we remain silent. This is unacceptable.” He also criticized Foreign Minister Yorgos Gerapetritis’s talks with Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, claiming they give Türkiye unnecessary leverage, and urged a firm stance in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
Samaras highlighted Türkiye’s defense industry advancements, stating, “Türkiye produces its own fighter jets and engines, while we just watch. Our government is a spectator, not a player.” He further accused Miçotakis of “whitewashing Türkiye internationally” through normalization efforts, declaring bluntly, “Greece should no longer stay silent. Mitsotakis, I say this clearly: enough.”
The criticism coincides with controversy over a drone show at the Icarus Air Force School’s “Air Force Festival 2025” near Athens. Hundreds of drones created blue and red aircraft in the sky, with the blue “F-35” firing at the red “Turkish F-16,” drawing applause from the audience but sparking debate on social media.
Turkish users reacted with comments like “They dream with drones, we fly the real KAAN” and “Flying an F-35 with lights is easy; we make the real thing.”
Greek Air Force Colonel Konstantinos Zikidis posted, “May Archangel Michael protect us, happy birthday to our Air Force.”
Samaras’ remarks have reignited domestic discussions on Türkiye, with opposition parties criticizing the Miçotakis government for passive diplomacy and perceived backtracking on Aegean and Cyprus policies.
