Mitsotakis: Turkish Reactions Won’t Sway Aegean Policies
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Turkish objections will not stop Athens' green energy and tourism plans for Aegean islands, asserting Greek sovereignty under international law.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Monday, Mitsotakis made clear that Turkish protests over Greece’s renewable energy framework would have no impact on Athens’ strategic planning for the region.
The prime minister emphasized that Greek sovereignty over the areas in question is firmly established under international law, and that Greece stands ready to defend its territory at all times. He reiterated Athens’ position that bilateral discussions with Turkey should be limited exclusively to the delimitation of continental shelf boundaries and exclusive economic zones in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
New Green Energy Framework Draws Turkish Criticism
Greece’s newly established framework sets comprehensive guidelines for the placement of renewable energy installations and energy storage infrastructure across the Aegean islands, while incorporating protections for environmental conservation, local communities and cultural heritage sites, as Kathimerini (EN) reports.
Turkey’s Defense Ministry has issued a formal objection to the Greek plan, claiming it encompasses geographical features whose sovereignty was never transferred to Greece through international treaties. Ankara stated it remains committed to defending what it describes as its rights and interests in the Aegean Sea under international law.
Athens Concerned Over Turkish Maritime Claims
The Greek government has expressed concern regarding Turkey’s recent designation of two marine parks in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. Greek officials view these declarations as part of a decades-long pattern of Turkish maritime claims that began in the 1970s and continues to challenge established boundaries in the region.
Greece’s Economic Recovery Highlighted
During the same cabinet meeting, Mitsotakis pointed to his administration’s successful early repayment of debt accumulated during the 2010-2018 financial crisis. He announced that Greece will soon shed its status as Europe’s most heavily indebted nation and is now borrowing at more favorable rates than both France and Italy.
With information from Kathimerini (EN)
