By Gifts Antoniou

Faced with constant pressures for Turkey’s participation in the Safe program, Athens is intensifying, as discussions about the form of the joint European defense enhancement. This was confirmed yesterday in Copenhagen, where after the end of the work of the European Political Community, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Secretary General. NATO, Mark Rutte, at a scheduled meeting, but it had not been announced. Mr Rutte sought this meeting to burn Athens’ position for Turkey’s participation in the common European defense. “I was absolutely clear and absolutely categorical: As long as Turkey still has the Casus Belli issue on the table, as long as Turkey continues to challenge the dominance of Greek islands through the” Gray Belt “theory, Greece is not going to consent to Safe’s program” The prime minister said. Government sources add that this is a stable position from which Athens is not going to move and repeat in all tones and from every step available, in order to make it clear to those who wish Turkish participation in European defense programs, that their pressure should be directed to Ankara and the steps.

This was not the first and it is discounted that this is not the last nuisance of Athens on this issue. In particular, Secretary General NATO, in the middle of last month, was in favor of Turkey’s participation in the SAFE program at a meeting in Brussels with the 27 Ambassadors of Member States (Coreper). It had been a few days before the Commission’s confirmation that Ankara had filed an application for interest in the SAFE program.

It is clear that Secretary General NATO seeks to use as a lever of pressure on the mobility that develops within the EU. Due to the need to quickly enhance its defensive potential in order to ensure the prospect of Turkey’s participation and the involvement of the Turkish defense industry in programs that will run next time.

Discussions and backstage moves are going to intensify In view of the European Council on October 23 and 24when it is expected to seek finalization of decisions for the next steps in strengthening European defense. For this reason, Athens insists on repeating its position in order to make it clear that it is not going to retreat. After all, the climate of disputes on the part of Turkey is maintained, which issued a new NAVTEX to exit “Piri Reis” for investigations into the Aegean, showing that he is not going to retreat from this tactic.