While Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis may be trying to convince that Greece has cornered Recep Tayyip Erdogan, diplomatically and militarily, the truth comes to contradict him.
Greek diplomacy, once again, was caught sleeping by Turkish moves and is being dragged into a dialogue, with Ankara constantly putting issues both on the ground and on the table.
Turkey’s move, on the eve of the tragic anniversary of Imia, landed heavily on the Greek government, which was and remains in constant anxiety over the meeting with Tayyip Erdogan, as if it is the one begging the Turkish President for a meeting.
They want us to ask for permission
And this at a time when the Turks proceeded with an unprecedented action to indefinitely reserve maritime areas and to demand co sovereignty in the Aegean, insisting that Greece ask for their permission even for movements within Greek territorial waters. At the same time, continuing their provocations, they are increasing the number of Greek islands for which they demand demilitarization.
The tactic of the Turks in this era of geopolitical turbulence is anything but random, which is why it causes surprise at the relaxed attitude with which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is dealing with what is happening and remains committed to the view that the Mitsotakis meeting with Erdogan should take place.
Why they provoke
In fact, Athens has gone so far as to argue that Turkey is doing all this in order to expose Mitsotakis, so as to cancel his meeting with Erdogan and make Greece appear as the side that does not want dialogue. In short, their strategy is to expose us to Donald Trump as the bad child that does not sit at the table to talk.
Let us recall that Mitsotakis has set as a precondition for any moves that Turkey lift the casus belli, something that Ankara does not appear willing to do. On the contrary, it chooses the tactic of Hodja, constantly adding issues so that even if it gains just one, it will again come out ahead until the next meeting.
Diplomats are concerned
Reputable diplomats, however, are expressing their concern, because once again our country is heading into a meeting, at a high level no less, without having clarified what the agenda of the talks will be.
All this has created considerable concern, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is constantly caught sleeping by Turkish moves, and the only thing that seems to concern it is the notorious calm waters, even at a time when they are stormy.
Time will show whether the American factor is the one fueling Turkish provocations and what pressures will be exerted on the Greek side.
The role of the President
If we add to this the climate that exists internally and the possibility of heading to elections amid a prolonged crisis, then the questions multiply about Greek laxity and confidence.
It appears that these are the factors that have also activated the President of the Republic, Kostas Tasoulas, who is receiving former prime ministers at Irodou Attikou, and according to our information a large part of the discussions he has held so far concerns developments in national issues within the new geostrategic environment.
The reservations and concern that have been conveyed to him are something that has been passed on to Maximos Mansion.
Dendias breaks ranks
“It is obvious that Greece cannot take such an approach seriously, and Turkey knows it,” stated on Friday morning the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, when asked in a radio interview to comment on the announcement by the Turkish Ministry of National Defense regarding continuous Turkish NAVTEX in the Aegean.
“I do not know for what reasons, of domestic politics, they did this. At the level of law, continuous NAVTEX have no substance,” added Mr. Dendias, speaking on Alpha Radio, noting that they do not help relations with Greece, signaling a different approach to Turkish provocations.
Mitsotakis interview
It will nevertheless be interesting to see what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will answer in the interview he will give on Monday to Alexis Papachelas, to the questions he will receive about Greek Turkish relations and the expectations he has for his meeting with Tayyip Erdogan.
On the same day, it should be noted, the event in Kalamata is taking place, at which the two former prime ministers Antonis Samaras and Kostas Karamanlis will be present. The latter, who will be proclaimed an honorary citizen of Kalamata, is expected to refer in his speech to national issues as well and to send messages.
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