Turkish Media Claims Israel Wants to Trigger Greek-Turkish War After Mitsotakis Visit to Kastellorizo

Turkish media devoted extensive coverage to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit to Kastellorizo, with some commentators accusing Israel of seeking to provoke a conflict between Greece and Turkey.

Mitsotakis’ visit to Kastellorizo has triggered extensive coverage across Turkish television and newspapers, with the Greek Prime Minister’s presence on the strategically located island becoming the focus of heated commentary.

In an article published by Milliyet, the newspaper’s director, Özay Şendir, argued that Turkey does not have war with Greece as a priority and claimed that Israel is seeking to provoke a Greek-Turkish conflict.

Şendir wrote that Turkey has no reason to fear a war with Greece, arguing that the Turkish Armed Forces have sufficient capabilities to act if ordered to do so.

He also dismissed concerns surrounding Greece’s military alliances, while maintaining that Ankara’s preferred approach is to resolve its disputes with Athens through negotiations rather than military force.

According to Şendir, Turkey’s position can be summarised as a preference for negotiation even in the event of a conflict.

He argued that if the two countries are ultimately going to negotiate, it would be better to do so without first going to war.

Şendir also warned that Turkey would not launch a first attack unless, in his words, a “fait accompli” occurred in the Aegean or Eastern Mediterranean.

He then turned his attention to Israel, claiming that Ankara is aware of alleged Israeli efforts to divert attention and exhaust Turkey by encouraging conflict between Greece and Turkey.

“Athens should also know this,” he wrote, according to the report.

Turkish media focus on Kastellorizo

The Greek Prime Minister’s visit also received extensive coverage from other major Turkish media outlets.

Sözcü claimed that Greece had “militarised 23 islands with Israeli weapons”, while describing Mitsotakis’ visit to Kastellorizo as a provocative move.

The newspaper also questioned why Turkey, in its view, continues to issue condemnations while Greece allegedly continues what it describes as militarisation.

Turkish media reports repeatedly highlighted the proximity of Kastellorizo to the Turkish coast and its location opposite Kaş in Antalya.

A Haber questions Mitsotakis’ visit

A Haber focused heavily on the timing of the visit, linking it to Turkey’s recent maritime activity in the surrounding area.

The broadcaster questioned why Mitsotakis had travelled to Kastellorizo while Turkey was discussing the island’s status and had recently issued a NAVTEX for the area.

The programme also referred to the presence of the Turkish research vessel TÜBİTAK Marmara and Turkey’s recently declared maritime park.

A Haber questioned the presence of Greek military personnel on Kastellorizo and raised Turkey’s longstanding argument that the island should be demilitarised.

CNN Türk highlights Greek military presence

CNN Türk similarly focused on images showing Greek military personnel accompanying Mitsotakis during his visit.

The broadcaster repeatedly referred to Kastellorizo’s proximity to the Turkish mainland, noting that the island is only around two kilometres from the Turkish coast.

Presenters discussed whether the personnel visible in the footage were armed and whether heavy weapons were present.

The discussion then returned to Turkey’s longstanding position that Greek islands in the eastern Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean should be demilitarised.

CNN Türk described the issue as being contrary to international law from Turkey’s perspective and asked what Greece was seeking to achieve with the visit.

Greece and Turkey remain locked in competing narratives

The coverage reflects the sharply different narratives surrounding Kastellorizo and the wider Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

Athens maintains its sovereign rights and rejects Turkish challenges to the status and territorial rights of Greek islands. Ankara, meanwhile, continues to raise objections over the militarisation of Greek islands and broader maritime disputes.

The claims made by Turkish commentators regarding Israel’s alleged role in provoking a Greek-Turkish conflict remain their assertions and were not independently established in the reports cited.

Mitsotakis’ visit to Kastellorizo nevertheless demonstrates once again the island’s importance in the wider geopolitical dispute between Greece and Turkey.

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