Mitsotakis links support for Türkiye’s EU bid to good-neighborly ties
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis waits for the arrival of European Council President Antonio Costa before their meeting at the Maximos Mansion, in Athens, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo)
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said Greece supports Türkiye’s path toward the European Union, but stressed that Ankara’s progress must go hand in hand with maintaining good-neighborly relations with Athens.
Speaking after a meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa on Sept. 3, Mitsotakis said Greece does not pose a threat to Türkiye and rejected any external suggestions on how Athens should strengthen its defense capabilities under a recently signed agreement with Israel.
Israel’s Defense Ministry announced on Aug. 31 it had signed a deal with Athens worth approximately 3 billion euros (almost $3.5 billion) to set up the “Achilles Shield” aerial defense system for Greece.
