By Lieutenant General (Ret.) K. H. Konstantinidis
Greece Cannot Be Governed Under the Fear of Turkish Threats and Coercion
For years, Greece has been confronted with Turkey’s persistent efforts to create faits accomplis and challenge our sovereign rights.
The invasion and occupation of 38% of Cyprus, the Turkish-Libyan Memorandum, maritime claims and disputes, Marine Parks, the casus belli, the doctrine of the “Blue Homeland,” and a continuous rhetoric of threats have created a situation that can no longer be treated as something merely occasional or temporary.
Turkish leaders have accustomed us to threats of war. In recent times, however, tensions have increased considerably, and both the Turkish political leadership and a significant part of the Turkish media appear to be in a state of unprecedented agitation.
Faced with all this, Greece cannot continue responding merely with delays, waiting, and repeated appeals to international law, but must respond with action.
Our country has delayed the extension of its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, as provided for under the Law of the Sea. At the same time, more than two years have passed without the laying of the electrical cable that will connect Greece with Cyprus.
Meanwhile, the geopolitical environment in the wider region has become increasingly complex and dangerous.
New Alliance Dynamics
New developments are taking shape in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean:
1. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan have entered into defense cooperation, creating a new geopolitical reality.
2. To counterbalance this development, Greece and Cyprus have recently moved to further strengthen their relations with Egypt.
3. Greek-Israeli defense cooperation is continuously being upgraded and has now acquired the character of a long-term strategic partnership.
4. Israel announced that it is closing the British Consulate in East Jerusalem as retaliation for the United Kingdom’s new measures against Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Within this environment, Greece must consider its next steps with both composure and determination.
The Time for Decisions Has Come
In view of the aforementioned provocations by Ankara, we believe that the time has come for Greece to extend its territorial waters, at least to the south and west of Crete, and not only there.
Furthermore, the laying of the electrical cable to Cyprus must proceed now, without seeking prior notification from Turkey, as provided for under international law.
Greece cannot allow a third country to determine, through threats and coercion, the manner in which it exercises its rights.
How Close Are We to a Crisis?
All these developments constitute a potential crisis in the region, and our country must not allow itself to be subjected to coercion.
For whoever starts a war without international law on his side will sooner or later be confronted with the consequences of his choices.
Greece Is Not the Greece of the Past
Today, we have 40 Rafale fighter aircraft, 110 upgraded fourth-generation F-16s, a capable Navy, the “Achilles’ Shield” in the Aegean, and soon, with Israel’s cooperation, the “Dome” will also be completed.
Our islands are fully equipped, and the country possesses modern defensive and offensive weapons systems, many of them automated.
Above all, however, we possess determination and courage.
These capabilities, combined with our modern Armed Forces, can inflict significant blows on our neighbor and make Turkey think very seriously before deciding to become involved in a war with Greece.
Because in such a case, the Pandora’s box of consequences would be opened for Turkey. Its supply lines and the survival of each of its naval vessels would be placed at serious risk.
Deterrence Is the Best Guarantee of Peace
With international law on our side and with strong Armed Forces, the Government must convince Turkey to demonstrate reason and restraint.
Greece does not seek war.
But peace is one thing, and retreat under the threat of war is another.
Peace is safeguarded when an adversary knows that the cost of an aggressive action will be greater than any potential benefit.
If, however, we once again yield to Turkish pressure, then Turkey will have secured yet another victory over Greece, using its familiar method of intimidation.
And then the question will not simply be:
“Will there be war?”
but rather:
How many more concessions can peace endure?
(9 September 2026)
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Konstantinos Konstantinidis
Author – Member of the Society of Greek Writers
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