Diplomatic sources: Athens will block Turkiye’s participation in SAFE as long as casus belli remains in force

Senior diplomatic sources in Athens on Thursday sent a clear message to both Ankara and Greece’s allies following the NATO Summit, making it clear that Turkiye’s participation in European defence structures, such as SAFE, is out of the question as long as it maintains a threat of war against Greece.

They stressed that Greece’s position is unequivocal: the existence of the casus belli constitutes a formal threat of war that is in no way diminished by the passage of time or its familiarity to public opinion. “It can only be diminished through its definitive withdrawal,” the sources emphasised, adding that Greece will continue to raise the issue at every level.

The sources recalled that the SAFE regulation now incorporates the requirement for a bilateral agreement between the European Union and a third country, creating a right of veto. This is regarded as a significant Greek achievement, with the SAFE 2025 precedent considered difficult to circumvent in future legislation.

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