Philenews

Greece, Turkey, and the US: Strategic Stability in Turbulent Times

Published February 10, 2026, 17:22
Greece, Turkey, and the US: Strategic Stability in Turbulent Times

The Eastern Mediterranean is a complex geopolitical landscape, where Iran and Turkey play significant, yet distinct, roles. Iran appears unable to maintain its autonomy, while Turkey acts as a shock absorber and executor of difficult missions, thereby preserving its usefulness despite its lack of general acceptance. Israel, though it exacerbates tensions, is not the determining factor in conflicts, leaving that role to the United States. Within this unstable environment, Greece is called upon to act as a stabilizing force, moving with predictability and reliability. In the short term, the country enjoys advantages such as protection from Turkey, military and diplomatic support, as well as upgrading through military bases and joint exercises. However, this strategic approach also has its cost. Greece's strategic autonomy is limited, as it does not have the ability to determine the timing and manner of escalation on its own. The asymmetry with Turkey remains, and the latter maintains its unpredictable nature which makes it useful to its allies. Despite the difficulty, room for maneuver exists, but requires discipline, patience and composure, which often does not happen in the Greek political scene. Treating each issue as a separate issue, as Turkey does, is a practice that could benefit Greece, allowing it to maintain room for maneuver and avoid an ‘all or nothing’ logic.