"Our biggest nightmare is Türkiye"
According to the news, ahead of the NATO Summit to be held in Ankara, Athens' biggest concern was the possibility of Türkiye being given a broader operational role within the Alliance's new Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) plan. The report stated that this issue, which the Greek government did not share with the public, was brought up by former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.
- Turkey
- Published Date: 12:16 | 02 July 2026
- Modified Date: 12:20 | 02 July 2026
According to SL Press, the new IAMD plan, which will cover the entire operational responsibility area of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), envisions a common air and missile defense system based on central coordination instead of independent monitoring of NATO countries' airspaces. Accordingly, the possibility of Türkiye undertaking a more significant role in the defense structure, which will be carried out through specific regional centers, is being followed with anxiety in Athens.
The report stated that Greek diplomats conveyed that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during his meeting with SACEUR Commander Alex Grinkewitz in Athens last February, assured that Greece would demonstrate a "constructive attitude" without blocking important decisions regarding the IAMD plan.
The report also stated that the Greek side believes that countries close to the Russian threat have made significant contributions to the program, but in return, their security concerns with Türkiye are not sufficiently taken into account by the allies.