Philenews

Celik: Greek-Cypriot and Israeli Cooperation a Source of Instability in the Mediterranean – Militarization of Greek Islands Wrong

Published March 17, 2026, 17:16
Celik: Greek-Cypriot and Israeli Cooperation a Source of Instability in the Mediterranean – Militarization of Greek Islands Wrong

AKP spokesperson Omer Celik criticized the cooperation between Greece and Israel and the militarization of Greek islands, characterizing the former as a source of instability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the latter as wrong. This criticism came during a speech on the war in the Middle East, following the meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the ruling party in Turkey. Celik argued that the militarization of the islands, such as the deployment of a Patriot battery to Karpathos, is wrong and that the close cooperation between Greece and Cyprus with Israel creates conditions of instability. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the sending of military reinforcements to the region by European allies. Celik accused the European Union of being unable to assess and formulate a security strategy, citing the example of the war in Ukraine. He stressed that Turkey, as a guarantor power, is ready to protect the sovereign rights and interests of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.