ATHENS – Former Turkish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Greece sits “at the bottom of Turkey’s list of adversaries,” while insisting that Ankara’s strategic focus lies elsewhere, even as he rejected Greece’s long-standing positions on the Aegean.
Speaking to Ta Nea Weekend during The Economist’s 30th Athens Government Roundtable, Davutoglu argued that Turkey’s primary security concerns are centred on the Middle East, the Caucasus and the Black Sea, rather than Greece.
He also called for a “new understanding” in Greek-Turkish relations, saying the two countries should move beyond decades of mutual suspicion.
Despite his conciliatory remarks, Davutoglu reiterated Turkey’s opposition to Greece’s right to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean to 12 nautical miles.
He argued that no international map or legal framework supports the idea that the Aegean belongs entirely to Greece and rejected comparisons between Turkey’s long-standing dispute with Greece and recent tensions within NATO over Greenland.
Davutoglu also disputed the description of Turkey’s 1995 parliamentary resolution as a casus belli, claiming the term itself does not appear in the text.
He maintained that if Greece wants Ankara to withdraw the resolution, Athens should first abandon its intention to extend its territorial waters and instead return to negotiations.
Reflecting on the recent NATO Summit in Ankara, Davutoglu described the meeting as a diplomatic success for Turkey.
He argued that Ankara’s strategic importance has grown significantly because of its geographic position bordering both Iran and Ukraine, placing the country at the centre of several major international crises.
He also criticised recent US strikes against Iran, saying they were carried out without adequate consultation among NATO allies.
Davutoglu said it remains too soon to determine whether Turkey will rejoin the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme.
He said Turkey has every right to seek readmission, noting that he strongly supported Ankara’s original participation while serving as prime minister.
While acknowledging that US President Donald Trump recently said no final decision had been made, Davutoglu argued that negotiations continue behind closed doors and suggested recent comments questioning sanctions on Turkey could indicate progress.
He also rejected suggestions that Turkish acquisition of F-35 fighter jets should be viewed as a threat to Greece.
“Greece is at the bottom of Turkey’s list of adversaries,” Davutoglu said, adding that ordinary Turks do not regard Greece as an enemy.
Calls for renewed dialogue
The former Turkish leader said the framework for resolving bilateral disputes already exists through the exploratory talks launched while he served as foreign minister.
According to Davutoglu, the main obstacle remains Greece’s insistence on extending its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles.
He argued that the Aegean should become “a sea of cooperation and shared prosperity” rather than confrontation.