Mitsotakis Links Turkey’s Casus Belli to EU Defense Participation, Eyes Talks with Erdoğan at NATO Summit

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called on Turkey to revoke its 1995 casus belli declaration against Greece, linking the issue to Ankara’s potential involvement in European Union defense initiatives.

In a recent radio interview, Mitsotakis signaled that he will raise the matter with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, possibly during the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague scheduled for late June 2025.

Casus Belli: A Lingering Threat Over EU Relations

The casus belli—adopted by Turkey’s parliament nearly 30 years ago—warned of war should Greece expand its territorial waters beyond 6 nautical miles in the Aegean Sea. Mitsotakis now argues that Turkey cannot expect to benefit from EU defense cooperation while maintaining a standing threat against an EU member state.

“It’s time for our Turkish friends to take this off the table,” he said, stressing that Greece would make the issue a condition for Turkish access to upcoming EU defense mechanisms.

SAFE Regulation and EU Leverage

Mitsotakis pointed to Article 212 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which requires unanimous approval by all EU member states for agreements with non-member countries. This could give Greece and Cyprus significant leverage in shaping Turkey’s access to the proposed Security Action for Europe (SAFE) regulation, which is expected to be finalized on May 27.

Although SAFE is proceeding under qualified majority voting, Greek officials have highlighted the use of terms like “like-minded” in the regulation’s final text as a form of diplomatic compromise.

Turkish involvement in EU defense projects may occur indirectly, through subcontractors such as Baykar—the defense firm best known for producing the Bayraktar drones and recently acquired the Italian drone company Piaggio. While Baykar is closely linked to Erdoğan’s family, it is not formally under state ownership.

Ankara Pushes Back: “Turkey Is Central to Europe’s Security”

In response to Mitsotakis’ comments, a Turkish Defense Ministry source criticized the effort to tie defense cooperation to political demands.

“Turkey is a key part of Europe’s security architecture,” the source said, pointing to NATO membership, the strength of Turkey’s defense industry, and its critical role in regional crisis management.

Ankara also reaffirmed its long-standing goal of full EU membership, emphasizing cooperation on counterterrorism, migration, and regional security as mutual interests with Brussels.

Tensions Persist Amid Efforts for Dialogue

The remarks triggered criticism in pro-government Turkish media, with some outlets labeling Mitsotakis’ stance as “scandalous” and accusing Athens of blocking Turkey’s European path.

Still, the diplomatic rhetoric comes as both countries continue broader efforts to de-escalate tensions. The next High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and Turkey is expected to take place later this year, though no official date has been announced.