Yerapetritis: "Türkiye is a strong player with its independent defense industry"
Speaking at a forum organized by To Vima newspaper, Gerapetritis responded to questions on Greek foreign policy and Europe's defense future. He noted that if the United States reduces its support for NATO, European Union (EU) member states will need to strengthen their defense capabilities, viewing it as an opportunity for Europe to become more self-reliant in defense.
When asked about Türkiye's role in European defense, Gerapetritis remarked:
"Türkiye is a strong element regionally and internationally, with its independent defense industry. It is a partner in NATO and a country in the EU accession process. These roles come with certain responsibilities."
"Bilateral Ties Have Improved Significantly"
The Foreign Minister emphasized that relations between Türkiye and Greece have significantly improved compared to two years ago. He referred to positive developments in areas such as trade, the Cyprus issue, and political dialogue.
He also mentioned his recent unofficial visit to Istanbul, where he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Discussions covered regional issues, Cyprus, the High-Level Cooperation Council, and the positive agenda between the two countries.
Gerapetritis noted a significant increase in bilateral trade volume, adding that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have set a goal to double the trade volume between the two countries.
“We are making good progress toward that goal. I believe the coming years will be the best years for Greek-Turkish economic cooperation,” he stated.
The next High-Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) meeting is planned for this summer. Gerapetritis added that during the upcoming NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Antalya, further steps will be taken to set a date for the HLCC.
“What matters is making steady progress through small, politically and socially acceptable steps. Given the core disagreements, it's not easy to consolidate what we’ve built over the past two years,” he said, emphasizing the importance of dialogue channels in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
