Ankara Reacts Angrily to Mitsotakis Visit to Kastellorizo as Turkey Challenges Greek Military Presence

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Turkey has reacted strongly to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ recent visit to Kastellorizo, once again raising Ankara’s claims over the military status of the southeastern Aegean island.

Turkey’s Defence Ministry on Thursday criticised Greece over the presence of military personnel and naval vessels on Kastellorizo, following Mitsotakis’ visit to the island and nearby military outposts.

Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk, spokesman for Turkey’s Defence Ministry, said Ankara was closely monitoring developments and repeated Turkey’s position that Greece’s military presence on Kastellorizo violates the island’s demilitarised status under the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty.

“The stationing of military elements and warships on the island, and the public display of these elements as part of high-level visits, is not compatible with the island’s status and does not contribute to peace and stability,” Turkish media quoted Akturk as saying.

He also warned that Turkey would not accept what Ankara described as the disregard of rights and obligations arising from international treaties or attempts to create a “de facto situation” on the ground.

The latest comments came one day after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made similar accusations, describing Greece’s military presence on islands that Ankara considers demilitarised as a security threat to Turkey.

Athens has rejected those claims, arguing that they have no basis in international law and stressing Greece’s right to defend its sovereign territory.

The dispute centres on competing interpretations of the international treaties governing the status of Greek islands in the Aegean.

Mitsotakis visited Kastellorizo over the weekend to attend events marking the 83rd anniversary of the island’s liberation. During his visit, he also travelled to the nearby islets of Ro and Strongyli, where he visited Greek military outposts.

The visit came amid renewed Turkish rhetoric over the Aegean and the military status of Greek islands, adding another point of tension to the already sensitive Greek Turkish relationship.

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