Hakan Fidan’s remarks spark tensions with Greece

Statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan regarding Greece have stirred political tension between Ankara and Athens, prompting swift responses from Greek officials.

Fidan: “Türkiye is the number one issue in Greek politics”

Speaking in a live interview with TGRT, Fidan argued that Türkiye plays a dominant role in Greek domestic politics:
"In Greek domestic politics, issues related to Türkiye are the number one determining factor. It’s like a political aspirin — whenever there is a problem in politics, bring up Türkiye, the Mediterranean, or the Aegean. A political conditioned reflex has developed there."

Fidan warned that such political reflexes may have serious consequences:
"This is a very cheap form of politics. But behind this small political gain, there could be very serious strategic costs for their own nation and state."

The minister added that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had taken unprecedented political risks to resolve disputes with Greece, including the Cyprus issue. He expressed hope that one day Greek politics would reach the “maturity and self-confidence” of Turkey, allowing both sides to address issues more openly.

Athens Responds Immediately

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis rejected Fidan’s remarks, stating:
"Greece does not suffer from phobic syndromes and does not define itself in relation to Turkey. We take instructions from no one."

He added that Greece’s “strong and active foreign policy” could naturally cause tensions, but insisted that this should not be turned into hostility:
"Good neighborly relations cannot be fostered through excessive and untimely statements."

Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis also emphasized that Greece is a sovereign state acting in line with international law:
"We try to engage in dialogue with everyone, but we will never accept instructions or put our sovereignty issues on the scales."

A Familiar Flashpoint

The latest exchange highlights the persistent sensitivity of Turkish-Greek relations, particularly on issues such as the Aegean, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Cyprus. While Ankara accuses Athens of exploiting tensions for domestic politics, Greece insists it will not allow its sovereignty to be questioned.