Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has made provocative remarks about Greece’s military capabilities, suggesting that the country’s F-35 fighter jets could strike Turkey “suddenly one night.”
Speaking on Greek television, Georgiadis criticized Turkey’s military readiness and highlighted Greece’s recent defense acquisitions.
Georgiadis emphasized Greece’s strengthened alliances with the US and France and its enhanced military capabilities with the purchase of F-35 and F-16 fighter jets as well as frigates. “With F-35s, we can go to Turkey one night. One night, you will suddenly find them in Ankara,” he said, referencing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s previous threats.
Georgiadis’ comments come amid ongoing tensions between Greece and Turkey, despite recent efforts to improve bilateral relations. He dismissed Erdoğan’s rhetoric, questioning Turkey’s aviation capabilities and calling their aircraft outdated. “With what will you come to Greece one night? With the junk you have? Everyone knows Turkey is zero in aviation,” he added.
Remarks by the Greek minister come after two neighbors and NATO allies exchanged barbs over Turkey’s military operation in Cyprus in 1974, with each side accusing the other of distorting the background and unfolding of events, as the 50th anniversary of the intervention was marked on the island.
Cyprus, which joined the European Union in 2004, has been divided since Turkey’s 1974 invasion of the northern part of the island in response to a coup by Greek Cypriot nationalists who wanted to link the country to Greece.
The northern part of the island, with a majority of Turkish Cypriots and Turkish settlers, was self-proclaimed as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) in 1983.
The exchange of barbs came against the backdrop of both sides’ efforts to reduce tensions and put their relations on track.
After years of tension over migration, energy rights and maritime borders in the Aegean Sea, Greece and Turkey restarted high-level talks in December when President Erdoğan paid his first to Athens since 2017 and signed a declaration of friendship between the two historic rivals.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reciprocated Erdoğan’s visit on May 13.