Erdogan: “Mitsotakis’ reference to casus belli and F-35 procurement are wrong”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described as wrong the “casus belli” and the procurement of F-35 reference of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Mitsotakis should not have made such a mistake by saying that Turkey had not taken a position when Greece proceeded with the purchase of weapons, Erdogan said during a press conference after the end of the NATO Summit in Ankara on Wednesday.

“We have never asked the question why Greece bought or is buying specific defense systems. It is our neighbor. We could also make such statements, but there is no reason,” the Turkish president said.

Regarding the “casus belli“, Erdogan stated that “the vast majority of my people do not even know what the issue of casus belli is. If you ask them what it is, they will not know. That is why I do not think we should concern our people with these issues.”

He added “and we are already telling our Greek friends: Let us not burden either the Greek citizens or our own citizens with this. Come, sit down, let us talk and let us finish the job.”

Speaking to journalists at the NATO Summit, the Greek PM recalled that the Turkish casus belli is still an active threat against a NATO partner and that the procurement of F-35 by Turkey has legal obstacles due to the S-400 missiles it had obtained form Russia.

“Our duty to resolve the problems in the Aegean as leaders”

Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, Erdogan said that he shares  Mitsotakis’ view on the need to resolve the issues in the Aegean.

“I share the same view with Mr. Mitsotakis, especially regarding the resolution of the issues in the Aegean. We hope that first our foreign ministers and, if necessary, ourselves will sit at the table to discuss the issue.

But let me say it clearly and openly: Resolving the issues of these seas is, above all, the duty of leaders. On this issue, I share the same view.”

It should be recalled that for Greece the only issue in the Aegean Sea is the delimitation of the continental shelf, while Turkey challenges the Greek sovereignty over several islands and islets in the Aegean Sea.