Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos revealed that his forces were on high alert for several months, having declared a state of readiness three times due to escalating tensions with Turkey.
In an interview with the Greek newspaper "Protothema," the Minister stated that during the three occasions in the summer of 2020, Greece was on the brink of war with Turkey, noting that the naval fleet was mobilized and had often come close to the Turkish fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean. He emphasized that the supreme sovereign right is the protection of national integrity, which is why Greece chose to maintain forces for legal and preventive defense on the islands.
Panagiotopoulos also mentioned that Greece and the United States would be making changes to their defense cooperation agreement, revealing that the extension of the agreement had also been discussed. He indicated that all armed forces, from warplanes at bases to troops at the border, were prepared for any developments, expressing confidence that this mobilization would effectively send a deterrent message to the other party. He stated, "As long as there is a threat, which we assess to exist and was evident this summer, there is no room for disarmament."
Regarding cooperation with the U.S. administration, Panagiotopoulos pointed out that with the inauguration of President Joe Biden, there seems to be increased optimism for reaching an agreement with the Americans. He attributed previous difficulties to the inability to work effectively with the previous U.S. administration, noting that the personal relationship between Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan impacted the overall situation. He added, "There have been very positive statements from the State Department regarding the U.S. stance towards Greece. Joe Biden knows Athens well and supports it, and he is also a friend of Prime Minister Mitsotakis, which I believe is important."
