Greek Prime Minister Criticizes Erdogan in Turkey, Warns of War Threat

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sharply criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey's policies toward Greece during the NATO summit held in Ankara on July 8, 2026. Speaking on Turkish soil, Mitsotakis warned that Greece still faces an "open threat of war" if Turkey exercises its legal right to extend its territorial waters. He emphasized the need for NATO to be based on good neighborly relations and mutual respect among member states, urging consideration of all allies' sensitivities.

Mitsotakis highlighted that NATO is primarily a defense alliance and that disputes among member countries should be resolved through cooperation and good neighborly spirit. He also addressed the burden-sharing within NATO, noting that Greece already meets the defense spending target of 3.5% of GDP. Additionally, he mentioned Greece's ongoing 25 billion euro program to modernize its armed forces, placing the country among the top five NATO members in defense expenditure.

The Greek prime minister arrived in Ankara shortly before 7 p.m. on July 7 to participate in the NATO summit starting the following day. His remarks underscore the ongoing tensions between Greece and Turkey, especially concerning maritime boundaries and security issues within the alliance.