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Türkiye on Thursday rejected recent remarks questioning the demilitarized status of certain Aegean islands, describing such statements as “unserious, unfortunate and ill-timed,” as tensions rise across the region following the expanding Iran war and attacks on Western military installations.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said the legal status of the eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese, established under the Treaty of Lausanne and the Treaty of Paris, is not open to debate.
“The objective legal status of the eastern Aegean islands and the Dodecanese, placed under non-military status within the framework of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Treaty of Paris, is not a matter open to discussion,” Keceli said in a statement on X.
Keceli said certain actors were attempting to exploit recent developments in the region and repeatedly seek to poison bilateral relations between Türkiye and NATO ally Greece.
“Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that some circles, which try at every opportunity to poison our bilateral relations with our NATO ally Greece, are attempting another fait accompli,” he said.
Keceli also dismissed accusations that Ankara pursues revisionist policies in the Aegean.
He said any step taken in violation of international law by those accusing Türkiye of revisionism would have no legal validity.
"What is even more striking is that this mentality, which once sought to eliminate Turkish Cypriots collectively as co-owners of the island of Cyprus in the past, now claims that it will protect them as well. We would like it to be known that Turkish Cypriots and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with support of Motherland and Guarantor Türkiye, are capable of ensuring their own security and are not dependent on anyone else," he added.
Keceli’s remarks come as the broader Middle East crisis intensifies following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation across the region.
Earlier this week, a drone believed to be Iranian-made struck the British Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Greek Cyprus, causing minor damage but no casualties.
Greek Cypriot officials said the drone hit the runway after flying at low altitude to evade radar, while two additional drones targeting the island were intercepted.
Israel and the U.S. have continued a large-scale attack on Iran since Saturday, killing at least 926 people, including Khamenei and top military officials.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries that are home to U.S. military assets.
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