The Foreign Minister of Turkey, Hakan Fidan, renewed Ankara’s criticism of Greece and Cyprus on Sunday, April 19, accusing both countries of deepening military cooperation with Israel in a way that, he argued, threatens Muslim nations across the region.
Speaking during a press conference held on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in Antalya, Fidan sought to present Turkey’s recent outreach to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt as part of a broader effort to promote stability and reduce tensions. He rejected claims that Ankara was attempting to build a bloc against Israel.
Ankara rejects claims of anti-Israel front
Turkey’s regional diplomacy, said Fidan, should not be interpreted as an effort to establish a counterweight to Israel. Instead, he framed those contacts as part of Ankara’s attempt to support de-escalation at a time of heightened geopolitical strain.
At the same time, however, he pointedly redirected attention toward Athens and Nicosia, arguing that Turkey’s approach differs fundamentally from Israel’s. “We are not like Israel. They have formed a military alliance with Greece and Cyprus against Muslim countries,” he said, adding that Turkey’s primary concern remains regional stability.
Greece-Cyprus-Israel partnership under fire
In response to reporters’ questions, Fidan directly linked the Israel–Greece–Cyprus partnership to potential security threats facing Turkey and other nations in the region. He stated that no assurances had been offered to demonstrate that the cooperation was not directed against them.
He also referenced public appearances and statements involving Israeli leaders alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the President of the Republic of Cyprus, saying these reflected what he described as the “spirit” of a broader strategic alignment.
Turkey watching Greece, Cyprus closely
According to Fidan, Ankara’s response has so far remained measured, pointing to the ongoing bilateral dialogue between Turkey and Greece. Even so, he stressed that Turkey is monitoring military developments in the region closely and cannot afford to ignore them.
His criticism was especially striking when discussing Greece’s relationship with Israel, which he portrayed as unusually extensive even by Western standards. He claimed no other European country had taken comparable steps and implied that Athens is potentially not being fully transparent about its intentions.
Wider concerns across the Muslim world
In his closing remarks, Fidan maintained the deepening partnership between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece is fueling concern not only in Turkey but across the broader Muslim world.
He added that Ankara has the capacity to protect its own defense interests and revealed that Turkey has also purportedly received similar messages of concern pertaining to the relationship between the three nations from its regional partners.
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