Dendias Fires Volleys at Ankara: 'Greece Is Not and Should Not Become Turkocentric'

From the halls of the Eugenides Foundation, where the 3rd International Maritime Security Conference convened, Greece's Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, delivered a powerful rebuke to Ankara's maritime posturing. As reported by Ta Nea, Dendias, speaking in his capacity as a keynote speaker, did not mince words in condemning Turkey's "peculiar" consumption of the International Law of the Sea.

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The islands, no matter how large, for example Crete, do not have the right to an EEZ, that the islands of the Aegean are located on the Asian continental shelf.

Dendias directly addressed Turkey's contentious claims, such as the assertion that islands lack continental shelf rights and that Aegean islands fall within the Asian continental shelf. He characterized these arguments as so fundamentally flawed that even a first-year international law student would fail or be ridiculed for presenting them. Yet, he noted with concern, these claims are presented with apparent seriousness in international forums, necessitating a firm response from Greece.

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The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is a 'Sacred Gospel' for us, for the global economy, and for all states in the world.

In stark contrast, Dendias reaffirmed Greece's unwavering commitment to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, calling it a "Sacred Gospel" for the nation, the global economy, and all states. He then pivoted to Greece's proactive defense strategy, detailing plans to bolster the Aegean's security through a more cost-effective approach. This includes the integration of missiles, unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, enhancing operational freedom and deterrence capabilities.

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Greece is not and should not become Turkocentric.

Crucially, Dendias declared, "Greece is not and should not become Turkocentric." He stressed that while Turkey is a neighbor, it should not be Greece's primary preoccupation. The focus, he asserted, must remain on Greece's own capabilities and ensuring it is sufficiently adept to deter any threats. This perspective, deeply rooted in Hellenic national interest and a commitment to international law, contrasts sharply with the often alarmist or overly simplistic narratives presented in some Western media. For Greece, this is not merely a geopolitical chess match; it is about safeguarding sovereign rights and ensuring regional stability based on established legal principles, a point of national pride and strategic necessity.

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We will protect the Aegean in a more economical way compared to the past and ensure freedom of operation and freedom of deterrence for our largest platforms.