Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis intends to keep national security issues at the center of his preelection campaign, regardless of how Greek-Turkish relations develop, according to political insiders.
Mitsotakis has faced criticism, even privately from within his own New Democracy party, over his “calm waters” approach to Ankara. Sources close to the matter said Mitsotakis will not try to hide foreign policy from the preelection agenda and instead will take it to the polls.
The approach is partly forced: Opposition parties, particularly Antonis Samaras’ expected new political vehicle, will likely focus heavily on criticizing the government’s handling of foreign affairs.
Analysts expect Greek-Turkish tensions to remain prominent, citing Turkey’s planned maritime parks outside its territorial waters and the renewed push to build an electricity interconnector cable linking Greece and Cyprus.
Mitsotakis will highlight achievements from his seven years in office, including major defense purchases that shifted the Aegean balance of power, Greece’s maritime spatial planning and marine parks, expanded territorial waters in the Ionian Sea, and hydrocarbon exploration efforts south of Crete.
