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Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis stated that Türkiye is a powerful actor in both regional and international spheres, thanks to its independent defense industry.
Speaking at a forum organized by To Vima, a Greece-based newspaper, Gerapetritis answered questions on Greece’s foreign policy and shared his insights on the strategic importance of Türkiye’s defense capabilities.
He emphasized that Türkiye's independent defense industry has made it a strong presence in the region, highlighting its role as a NATO ally and a candidate country for EU membership.
"Türkiye, with its own independent defense industry, is a powerful element both regionally and internationally. It is a NATO partner and therefore an ally in the transatlantic alliance. It is also a country in the process of EU membership and carries certain responsibilities due to these positions," said Gerapetritis.
Gerapetritis also addressed the future of European defense, particularly in the event that the United States reduces its support to NATO. He suggested that European Union (EU) countries would need to strengthen their defense capabilities, which could serve as an opportunity for Europe to move towards greater independence in defense matters.
He noted that this could lead to Europe’s increased autonomy in defense, offering a chance for European countries to enhance their security without relying heavily on external support.
The Greek foreign minister emphasized that relations between Greece and Türkiye have significantly improved compared to two years ago. According to Gerapetritis, there have been positive developments in areas such as political dialogue, trade relations, and the Cyprus issue.
During his informal visit to Istanbul last week, Gerapetritis met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan over dinner. They discussed several issues, including international and regional matters, Cyprus, the High-Level Cooperation Council, and the political dialogue between the two countries.
Gerapetritis also mentioned that there has been a noticeable increase in trade volume between the two nations. He recalled that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis set a goal to double bilateral trade.
"We are making good progress in this direction, and I believe the coming years will be the best years for Greece-Türkiye commercial cooperation," Gerapetritis stated.
He also shared that a High-Level Cooperation Council meeting between the two countries is planned for the summer.
The timing of the meeting will be coordinated with the upcoming NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Antalya, where discussions will be held to find an appropriate time for the Greece-Türkiye High-Level Cooperation Council meeting.
Gerapetritis emphasized that the key to continued improvement in Greece-Türkiye relations lies in taking small, steady steps that both the political spheres and societies of both countries can accept. "Considering our fundamental differences on important issues, it is not easy to solidify the achievements we have built in the past two years to create a good cooperation ground between the two countries," he said.
"We are moving forward with small and steady steps. What we are building, we must consolidate as a conquest," he told.
He noted that the open channels of dialogue established between the two countries have helped prevent potential crises, adding that such dialogues are crucial for ensuring peace in the region.
TWEET: Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis praises Türkiye’s independent defense industry and discusses improved relations between Greece and Türkiye in trade and diplomacy
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